Didn't do that much digging today

But I did realize I still had all those rice hulls, two bags of extremely aged (and also soggy, but it had plants growing in it, so it should be okay?) compost, and some vermiculite from the last time I tried a proper vegetable garden, so I started mixing that up and then I seeded some cleared areas. And nearly got hit in the face with a turkey as I did it, too! Plus, bonus, under the bag of rice hulls and the bag of vermiculite is a lot of genuine, homegrown wormcastings, with the earthworms still bountiful within! I know they're all a highly invasive species, but they're pretty ubiquitous and I'm also in a city on an island so I think I'll just accept them as they are.

As I remember, last time I had a garden my neighbor came and stood right in my tomatoes, I do not know why, and it put me in a bad mood over the whole thing. But this time should go better. Well, better if I get a spare pair of gloves - I didn't want to wear them once they got soggy dealing with the compost and now my fingernails all hurt. I know it's my fault, you don't need to tell me.

(I'm starting to worry that I don't have enough wildflower seeds.... Listen, if any has any half-packets from previous years, I'll take them and paypal or venmo you back the cost of the stamp.)

Edit: After I made this post I went out and dug up ragweed for another hour, until it got too dark. I might take a day off from ripping them up, but they don't take a day off from spreading out runners, and right now, they still outnumber me!

I've gotten all along the fenceline to the ramp

And there appear to be roots growing under the ramp, which is a problem. Also, this is *definitely* a well-established node, the roots and stems have become woody and intractable. And there's stray chainlink fence where I guess we ordered too much and just left the excess on the ground? I ordered a wire cutter, I can't do much with it there.

To add insult to injury (literally! I got a rash yesterday because I carelessly went out there with short sleeves and brushed up against the ragweed!) it seems, upon googling, to be western ragweed. The eastern type is an annual. The western type is not and I think is invasive in this part of the continent.

The birds are not happy that I took away their hiding and perching spot. Whatever. My neighbor offered me some raspberry cuttings, yes please! and we'll see if the birdies like that more. If my bushes I planted this year don't take, which I increasingly suspect will be the case, I'll try again next year with larger samples - by the time I ordered I could only get the smaller size.