One garden task down ...

... hundreds to go.

I usually cut this clematis almost to the ground early in the winter, but this year Terri asked me to be very careful to preserve and keep covered the bushtit nest she photographed last summer. The dead vines needed to be cut out though, so today I cleaned it up.

The nest is a bit exposed at this point, but the vine should grown in and cover it soon. I do hope the bushtits return to occupy it again.