The More, the Merrier

Last weekend, temperatures rose past the sixty-degree mark. It was a wonderfully warm respite from the chilly weather we've been having. As I type this, rain has been falling for hours, and we're predicted to receive at least six inches of snow overnight. But last weekend was lovely, perfect weather for yard work and gardening. Friends of ours looking to spend some time in the sun offered to come lend us a hand with work outside, since they live in an apartment and have no yard of their own at the moment. We were not about to turn down the offer of company and extra labor, and were delighted to have them.

So what did we do? That morning, Nick and I had purchased several bags of soil conditioner and compost. A and I opened the garden beds up, took shovel and pitchfork and turned the soil, dividing the new bags evenly between the three beds. In a week or two Nick will measure the nutrient content and pH of the newly-refreshed soil to help figure out what (if anything) else is needed. E and Nick trimmed our vastly overgrown crepe myrtle trees, and dug up some bushes that were crowding the backyard "patio". The latter task was especially strenuous; none of us had realized quite how massive the root structure on the little shrub would prove to be.

Thanks for all the help, guys!