wind

The winds blew from time to time this week, and as the temperatures slowly moved up, you could see once again the dirt drying out. This soil that once provided footing for trees too large for a grown man to put his arms around them was not made for open exposure to sunlight and wind.

I dig down a little and detect moisture. It just has not been hot enough to dry out all of it.

Spring's clock is ticking down and the opportunity to dig dirt and move plants is diminishing. No, the heat has not come yet, but the grace of cool chilled air is almost over, and soils moistened by rain and cool air, so pliable that dirt crumbles in the touch, have hardened into a beige brick. As the moisture leaves the soil, the color lightens to beige. When it is wet, it is a dark brown.

I look at what needs to be finished, my projects, and think about what is most important. First, I need to finished digging out grass from the extensions of the shade garden in the front yard. Then I need to make a few more planting areas in the backyard. Both areas need lots of compost. All else, weeding particularly, and getting rid of my wood pile, will take on importance, and planting and making beds, something of real joy, will be put on hold till fall.