With Mary and I on the road most of the time working to elect conservatives around the country (the Conservative Campaign Committee), our home was neglected.

We were amazed to see that roots had grown two feet up our drain-spout, blocking the flow of rain water – stopping it from functioning properly, fulfilling its purpose. Strange things move in when the boundaries of your home go unchecked for too long.

My trees and bushes were in serious need of pruning. A huge uninvited vine was entrenched, threatening to overtake one of my big cedar trees. Though the invader clung valiantly strangling it's unwilling host, I stubbornly pulled and tugged at the vine until I eventually liberated my tree.

I cut away all useless dead branches; big and small. They were not contributing anything, just taking up space on my trees.

My old holly bush was in a battle for its life. The bush is original to the house and desperately needed my attention. An invasive vine and two small trees had somehow taken root right in the middle at its base. The vine and trees were sucking up the nutrients from the soil rightfully owned by my holly. I removed the invaders. Though half the size it should be and its branches thin and with few leaves, I believe my Holly will recover and fill out to become a beauty again.

Packing up my pruning sheers, ax and chainsaw, I swear I could almost hear my trees and bushes breathe a sigh of relief and say thank you. With the dead weight and invaders removed I expect to see new healthy flourishing growth.

My doctoring included removing unattractive overgrown branches. There was a weird looking branch jetting out from the side of a tree trunk. I could not bring myself to remove it. I admired it's desire to live.

Seeking sunlight, the resourceful determined branch had snaked its way up and down through the out-of-control overgrown invasive vines, weeds and small trees hogging up the sun. Though strangely bent and twisted, the struggle made the branch thick and strong; it's top leaves basking in the sun, smiling and dancing in the breeze.

I thought, “You my friend deserve to live.” I cleared away more invaders. Go ahead branch, suck up that sun. You earned it.

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American; Chairman, Conservative Campaign Committee