Thanks for asking about the garden project. I ended up going with raised beds this year instead of the in-ground rows we discussed. The soil in the back half of the yard has too much clay and drainage has been terrible after heavy rain. I built four beds using untreated pine planks each measuring about four by eight feet. They sit about twelve inches high which should be plenty for root vegetables. I filled them with a mix of topsoil compost and perlite to keep things loose. The tomatoes went in last weekend and I staked them right away. Peppers cucumbers and basil are all sprouting nicely. The real test will be July when the heat really sets in but I think the drip irrigation system I installed will help keep everything consistent. Let me know if you want to borrow the extra soaker hose I have coiled up in the shed.

So far the biggest surprise has been how much faster the soil warms up in raised beds compared to the ground. I checked temperatures with a probe and there is a noticeable difference in the morning. That extra warmth seems to help the seedlings take off quicker. I am planning to add a second round of planting in late summer for fall harvest. The local extension office has a good calendar for when to put in cool season crops around here. I can forward that to you if it would help with your planning.

About the weekend plans — I think Saturday morning works best if we aim for a 9am start. The trailhead parking lot fills up quickly on weekends so arriving early makes a big difference. I checked the park website and the loop we want is open again after the maintenance work they did last month. The total distance is about six miles with roughly eight hundred feet of elevation gain spread out gradually which should be comfortable for everyone in the group. I plan to bring a light lunch and plenty of water maybe those sandwiches we tried from the deli on Maple Street. If the weather looks iffy we can pivot to the shorter route that stays under tree cover for most of the way. Let me know if anyone needs a ride or wants to meet at the coffee shop near the entrance around 8:30. I will send a quick note Friday evening with the final plan and what to bring along.

The forecast is showing partly cloudy with highs near seventy which would be ideal. I packed my daypack last night and it feels good to have everything ready. I picked up a new map from the ranger station and it shows a few connecting trails I have not explored yet. We can decide as a group if we want to extend the walk a bit or keep to the main route. Either way it should be a nice morning outside before the afternoon gets warmer.