Last year's load of manure has composted nicely, and this soil is beginning to have a little fertility. But that makes it a hot spot in a nutirent starved forest, and as a result, roots snake in from far and wide. Whereas most gardens suffer weed invasion from above, this garden is attacked from both above and below.

The only strategy I can figure is taking a spade all around the perimeter slicing as deep as possible, then working in toward the middle pulling roots along the way. I remember once going to the old compost bin behind Pinebox looking for a little soil to find nothing but a thick, impenetragle tangle of roots.

Cool, with occasional light rain. Almost finished the upper deck battens, trim, and paint. To the Roosteraunt in Mindemoya where we hooked up with Murray and Elaine for a pleasant dinner. We felt quite cosmopolitan and urbane.