An old grapevine had been allowed to grow wild at the back of our lot. It had engulfed and killed at least one tree and was entangled in two others. It had also entwined itself in the back fence as well as a (used to be) decorative picket fence.

The central mass of the grapevine was a mound of living and dead branches that was 20 feet in diameter and about 6 feet high. While clearing this mound I came across a large lizard. It was a cold day and the lizard started out quite lethargic and docile. After warming up in, but not warming up to, my hand it became quite feisty; such that I put on my gloves before returning it to the backyard undergrowth.