Even though we have only a modestly sized back yard, somehow there still seem to exist dozens of hidden and derelict corners we discover every time we work on the landscaping. Recently I spent a Saturday afternoon raking leaves out of one of these forgotten back corners - three full-sized green waste containers worth of leaves that had likely been piling up for years - in some areas the dead leaves were eight inches deep.
While I was working on the mass of leaves, weeds, broken pot shards, and spiders behind the avocado tree I noticed for the first time this forgotten little bed to one side of the playhouse. It's in a heavily shaded corner under several trees and blocked from view by a large bird of paradise. I thought it would be a great place to set up a little children's garden for Beatrice and Arthur to keep beside the playhouse.
BEFORE
I wish I had taken a "Before" photograph before I started raking, but these piles you see to the side give you some idea of what was there before.
AFTER
I cleaned everything out (including the bird of paradise because it blocked any access to the garden behind it), enlarged the brick-delineated area, boosted the soil with compost, and then Beatrice and Arthur (and Lenore) helped till it up.
We planted some flowers that quickly died in the last 100+degree heat wave back in October, but until new flowers appear in the spring, the kids are really into digging the area up and "planting" random things, like sticks and leaves.
The chicken likes to get involved, too.
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