Yes, the team discussed the path options for the trailhead near the old ranger cabin last evening. The left fork stays partly shaded through the pines after about the first mile, and there is a small stream crossing where the stones can be slick after rain. The right fork opens into a meadow with thistles and wild asters, but the path narrows in late summer when the grass grows tall. We are leaning toward the left fork for the group walk on the third Saturday, mainly because there is a level clearing with log benches near the stream where we can stop for a snack and talk through the route plan for the fall. The walk itself is not too steep, though the hill before the cabin will make some people pause. Bring a light shell, extra socks, and a thermos of something warm, because the mornings have been cooler than they look. I will send a reminder with the gate code and the list of what to leave in the car.

Right, so about the community garden plot plan that was circulating, I think the current layout works better than the first draft. The sun exposure on the west side is strongest from around eleven until four, so the tomato and pepper rows should stay there. The east side gets too much shade from the sycamore after two, but leafy greens and herbs do decently in that pocket. We also talked about rotating the squash into the middle bed where the soil held moisture longer last year. Some raised-bed frames need new cedar boards at the far end, but we can stagger that work. There are extra bags of compost behind the tool shed, and Carol has a wheelbarrow and trowel set to share. We should pick a Sunday morning before it warms up, maybe the second Sunday, and do a quick walk-through of the watering schedule and the sign-up sheet for weekend tending. Bring gloves and a hat, and let me know if you are available so we can confirm how many people we have.