so i watered the yard

Well over a month and still not traceable rainfall. It was not so bad in most areas of the garden because the temps have been so mild, but in places where large trees are vying for the moisture, the ground is particularly dry and hard.

One expects a certain softness to the soil this time of year -- this ability to work the soil is matched with the almost perfect temperatures of cool air.

So I started watering this weekend. At least the forsythia, already bearing darkened leaves from the first near frost, are no longer drooping from the stress of no rain.