The ground on which this geographic area sits is comprised of heavy Leda clay. It's dense and heavy, but tends to dissolve into an almost liquid state when the ground has been penetrated by too much rain, hence the possibility of slumps on hillsides, which we've experienced from time to time in the ravine. When the houses were built in our community, it was on this relatively unstable clay base that distinguishes itself as friable when the 'right' conditions arise. In areas of Quebec this has often led to disabling landslides that have had a deleterious effect on the stability of houses built in these areas. 

The construction firms that built the houses here laid down soil over the base of clay augmented by building materials and gravel that tends to accumulate during construction, well hidden from sight by the overlay of garden soil and grass. When our gardens were put in decades ago, the soil was altered and enriched when we added more garden soil, peat moss and aged manure to make for good growing conditions. 

 

When we had our original fence that had badly deteriorated removed last fall and a new one installed, the fence installers had a difficult time working between property lots where established gardens, including trees and  shrubs made for very scant room to manoeuvre. At one of the back corners of our lot there is a sewage drain, with the same kind of sewer cover that lines any street. We discovered in the spring that it had been completely covered with layers of excavated clay. Which meant that any run-off and our neighbours' pool couldn't access the sewer for drainage.

 

Today, Irving pulled on high rubber boots, armed himself with a spade and a pitchfork and set about liberating the drain. The clay overlaying it was almost a foot thick, and heavy and it took a lot of digging to remove the clay and open up the drain. Just as well it wasn't a really hot day, although it was sunny and the heat of the sun was fierce. But it's done now, and while he was back there, behind the garden shed, we were presented with the opportunity to pull some really hefty weeds. I'd been at them but not for the last month or so, and they've grown in to take the place of those I had disposed of.

 

As the day wore on it became warmer and when we set out for our hike through the ravine with Jackie and Jillie it wasn't with the intention to emulate yesterday's jaunt when we were out for hours enjoying a much longer than usual circuit. Jackie and Jillie don't really seem to notice how long we're out in the afternoon, venturing through the forest trails.

 

They become expectant in the afternoon hours, and tell us it's time to move out. And so we agreed and went off with them, taking our leisure time, and noting, not for the first time, that the forest has been hugely colonized by a surprisingly diverse number of wildflowers, many of them quite beautiful, that represent invasive species, from the wild garlic plant, to the wild parsnip, the Himalayan orchid and the purple loosestrife, and dog strangulation vine.