I have finally discovered the prickly bush, an insidious vegetation that has happily grown in my little wild wood, unnoticed and unscathed, for decades. I have turned my eyes to this bush this year with as much determination to weed it out as it is determined to grow. It hides next to little indigenous trees, behind ferns, under other bushes. And its bark has thousands of little nettles, and one nettle burns if it connects to human skin. So, it's not an easy opponent. Day after day, I have tromped into my little wood with my wood cutter in hand and waged battle. I am feeling mildly triumphant, if not a little battle weary. Now, however, I am noticing that there are open spaces and bare spots in my woods…
