Dupont:

Busy Sunday as R dug three large holes first. Then we went, in two vehicles to the mill to extricate 3 cedars that were, in lieu of being able to plant them in the river rock laden ground, dug into a huge pile of wood chips, pots and all - a few years ago. The poor dears had made themselves at home and were challenging to extricate and also to replant. R had to cut the large pots off with a swede saw. They are now in their new homes along one side of the new property, well watered and with much of their "home" wood chips in the hole and as mulch. We have hope for their acclimation to their new venue, that they will now be able to live up to their full potential. The soil here is clay but I am told they like that.

I gathered four bags of the wood chips for mulching perennials I removed from the garden at the mill and today managed to get them planted and mulched in front of the house. This had presented another difficult task for R as the former owner, a non-gardener had put an indestructible fabric down to prevent weeds and covered it with red mulch. R managed to extricate most of it with great difficulty. I managed a tich more to squeeze in a few more things along one edge. The bed on the other side of the front door awaits another day! The new bed looks quite nice! There are lots more plants at the mill, yet to be moved.

Next trip to the mill, I shall collect more bags of mulch.It looks quite nice and is very well seasoned after many years outdoors. From when the mill was a hockey stick factory, there is probably enough to cover our entire yard about 2 feet deep! What a thought! I detest mowing grass! It is ever so useless. And it would make it so easy to plant all manner of veggies, herbs and perennials next spring!! When I lived in Edmonton, Alberta, many people planted potatoes on a new property, to break up the soil and prepare it for grass seeding.

We also brought back a small pine cabinet that will be useful inside the back door for indoor gardening soil and tools and more. I bought the dear little thing about 30 years ago at "Monroe's Trading Post" ($10) which was around the corner from Beaver - which was built by Monroe earlier on. His widow closed the Post but still lives there (was delighted when I told her I still had the wee cabinet!) and son is our good next door neighbour!

Now I am resting and waiting hopefully for the coming rain to finish watering in the new plantings. The river, however, is a few inches from coming over the road, from the last rains. It is fascinating to live in such proximity to this beautiful river - as long as we are high enough!