starting to put the garden to bed

It's time to begin putting the garden to bed. Yesterday, Jonathan came over to help us.

The first part of the job, was to pull a ground cover plant that had gotten out of control. We both did some pulling, but I can't very well step into the garden under the tree with my bodily ailments: hence JJ. We were just about finished the eradication when Sue took this photo. I stun myself by looking so skinny and ancient. I guess it would help if I weren't wearing a shirt that fit me then but is too large now and just hangs on me  

Next: Jonathan is standing where we have pulled the ground cover, and I am somewhere in the process of pointing out where we might dig holes to plant tulip bulbs. We needed to dig about 6"/15cm deep. That's a yard/metre stick in my hand. It was a freebie from an International Plowing match about 40 years ago. I was teaching at a rural high school, and staff and students were granted the day to attend the event. D2 was in an urban school, but she came with me for the day. I do not remember it being exhilarating.

JJ got to it.

But he found the spade more to his liking and used it to demonstrate his athletic ability. 

I couldn't resist adding a radial blur to the last photo.

There is more garden work to be done as the month progresses, but that is just about all that we have to do within that little space under the tree. Sue and I can manage the rest.