Aloe

(Michael) I had my father come over on Saturday to help me with some of our sprinklers.  What started as a quick check on the insufficient water pressure somehow turned into the removal of our monstrous aloe plant.  

I was hoping that this experience was going to be a great object lesson where some of our giant problems (aloe plants) stem from one or two core issues (trunks).  Instead it turned out to be an object lesson where if you don't hack down your problems early enough they will sprout thousands of vines and spread everywhere in a giant twisted mass.

We rotated through a variety of different tools of destruction, but I have to say that I most enjoyed using the machete that dad had gifted to me many years ago (which he prophetically said I would need one day).  As much fun as that was, it all came down to dad's electric chainsaw.

We really wanted to get the full experience so we made sure to wait till noon in the middle of one of the hottest days of the year to get this done.  Now if only there were a plant that could help treat sunburns....

(At the beginning when the full extent of the project hit me)

(Our brief but fun stint with the machete)

(Near the end thanks to the chainsaw...I don't have an after picture because there still is so much root left and it is depressing.  I like to think of it at this triumphant moment when the last few branches are about to be taken out.)