The photo shows the most dangerous spot in my garden after I cleared it. I warned myself to be alert, because the ground is terribly uneven. It was also covered by overgrown evergreens and big weeds that hid two electric wires. The shot was taken above and to one side of the waterfall.

I began at the pathway, using a step stool for stability while climbing over the low stone wall. My feet are not particularly big, but they felt enormous in that setting. I shuffled and tested my balance before pulling up the greenery to cut it with hand clippers, keeping the wires in sight.

Soon the red basket was full, but I wasn’t going to empty it. Instead, I threw the cuttings behind me, not caring where they landed. It was much easier to pick up the debris on level ground after the trimming was done. I laughed when I came back to the pathway and saw that I’d made a good semi-circle of cuttings. The burn pile is once again tall with highly combustible cuttings.