Things To Do

Soil. This is a hard lesson for me. I avoid dirt. I can't help but think, "Ewwwwww," but it's got to happen. Perhaps I should pick up some rubber gloves.

Infrastructure. We have a tree tangled in power lines, scraggly old lilacs, ripped ground cloth that flutters in the wind, scattered landscape rocks from who knows when . . . time to clean up. We also could do with a new back fence - the one we have now is full of holes - used as peek-a-boo windows by the neighbor's friendly dog - and leans forward and back like a three-year-old imitating Elvis.

Eventually, when the city's American Basswood that shades our front yard kicks the bucket - an inevitability, as it is split down the middle with rot - our little shady hill dotted with thirsty columbines and struggling hostas will finally have its place in the sun. When we terrace our little front hill and move the front perennials to a border garden across the front sidewalk, we'll have a respectable free space ready for food.