The large boxwood that had to be transplanted last summer to make space for the generator installation, as shown here, looks mostly green and healthy after the winter. A few branches died, and the bush looks a bit shaggy; but I’ll wait until autumn before doing any pruning to make sure it has fully recovered.

Having been uprooted so abruptly last summer from its comfortable spot beside the house must have been a great shock to it, but the boxwood is hanging in there. I like having it here to look at, as a reminder that no matter how much the world has changed, we’re still surviving—and, maybe, we have more healthy new growth in more places than we know.