Gravel to Green

Several days after unearthing that huge piece of slate, Miss V and I were digging at the same location when we hit something solid. We'd been through so many episodes of pulling out cobblestones and bottles, we were sure it was just more of the same. We approached the digging from various sides and just as I slid and almost fell, we realized it was something smooth.  To our great surprise, it seemed as though the large piece of slate had reappeared - just about a foot deeper. We swept away the soil until the entire shape was revealed: narrower and a bit longer than the original one. But it was buried deep on one end. Optimistically we prepared a place for it near the other slate, with hopes of enlarging our patio. Now, all we needed was to assemble another team of strong men. October 1st was a sparkling day, and we were lucky to find two new friends of the garden, willing and able to help us. Had it not been for the persistence of Mr. C and Mr. R, this second piece never w...

All of us who've been involved in the planting of The Footbridge Garden have concentrated on the front sections, because there was a nasty piece of slate wedged in packed dirt by the supports for the footbridge. It was large, but I always hoped this piece could be moved, so we renew the soil, and put in a focus plant and a trellis with climbing vines. But, how to move the slate? Miss V and I had dug around it, and made a place for the slate to be moved, but we could not even budge it. We needed help. So, one day, our friend Mr. H offered, and brought along Mr. J. for some added muscle. After a few tries, we called for more strength.  When Mr. D. J arrived, it suddenly seemed possible. There was some huffing and puffing, and then, it was in place moved directly under steps for a 'patio'. What a great feeling! Thanks, team! Then, I got to work connecting the path to the newly positioned slate with some makeshift steps.  At Home Depot I found some ...