I have been attempting, this week, to clean up the garden beds and get them in shape for coming winter. Mostly because the compost bin in the back is full up and has been sitting there for over two years, and I hate the richness to go to waste. So I am working on pulling weeds, digging up and transplanting some perennial flowers into other spots in the yard, and spreading loads of dirt that I hauled home from someone's yard project over a month ago. One bag per bed. It doesn't cover with much depth, but tops it off enough that when I add the compost and then a layer of dry leaves, the beds will be full and can break down more over the cold season. So then in spring if I actually have the mental energy to plan and start a garden again, it will be ready.
It has felt satisfying to see the beds clean and dark soil again. It's mostly clay with some lumps I have to bread up, but I did throw a handful of compost with a few worms into each bag when got it home, so it's already started loosening up some.
I left a few nicotiana and borage in the corners of beds 1 and 4.
And the lovage is looking better now that the weather has cooled down.
I've been lifting off, digging out soil that sifted and straightening more of the edging bricks too, though most of the rows are not completely straight and still have a few crooked. You can see gaps here and there between them. Working on that gradually, a few at a time.
