Stone wall

Two years ago, the landscaper installed my bird fountain and drove off in his white pickup truck.  Thin gray stones left over from the project were stacked on top of the fragile hepatica along the driveway. The stones were rough and flat and irregular in shape, roughly the size of a working man's hand, palm flat, fingers splayed.

In time, the woodbine grew to cover the stones and the chipmunks climbed in and out of the pile looking for seeds.  A veneer of leaf decay accumulated in the open spaces and pill bugs and beetles made their homes there.   

This spring, those stones were used to make a rock wall.  I lay the stones out on an open space in the parking pad, selecting each stone by size, piecing them one by one along 70 feet of the driveway.  I worked for hours on sunny afternoons, sitting on the driveway, sun at my back.

Eventually a wall emerged, 10 inches high, tall enough to collect leaves and plant debris, which will decompose to create a rich dark soil for the spicebushes and wildflowers.

Here are the ingredients for making something beautiful: found stone, autumn leaves, pulled weeds, and patience.  Give it some time, lots of it.  This is the recipe for making what everyone wants for their garden.  Perfect soil.