Ailanthus leaves

Ailanthus is a trash tree. It is invasive and sends up sprouts everywhere. It smells awful. The wikipedia article says it only sends up sprouts where nothing else will grow, but it competes in my yard with the equally sprouty locust tree that is trying to take over the universe and the crabgrass. It is far superior to that locust because it doesn't have thorns and is a lot easier to uproot. Chickens won't eat it.

In spite of it being a terrible pest, it has beautiful leaves, especially when pressed into clay, or when you have a new leaf just unfurling.

Today I am grateful for the day I was given, an interesting day, solving a tough programming problem at work, limeade, and a cool breeze.