In a previous blog I think I mentioned the difference between regular gardening and “Man Gardening”. The resident expert once explained to me that “Man Gardening” is all about dirt, rocks and bark, which usually means cutting things down, cutting things off (pruning), moving things around and building things (like the shade garden).

Last weekend the resident expert bought a huge truck load of soil and moved it into the back yard. Some of the beds at the front still need a bit more dirt, but most of it will go into the rock garden. This year, like never before, the rock garden has been invaded by many types of weeds and grasses.We have a fabulous squirrel-proof bird feeder (a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Mooks) in the middle of the rock garden, so many of the grasses are from the seeds that have sprouted.

Anyway, I have been to pull up the grass and with it comes large chunks of dirt. In the last few weeks  enthusiastic weeding activities have started to denude the rock garden, so hopefully this will remedy the situation.