Elara's son eagerly took a pair of child-sized shears, trying his best to follow Arpious's instructions. He carefully cut away a few small branches, looking up for approval. Arpious gave him a nod, satisfied with his work.
After a while, the group moved on to replenishing the soil. Elara had prepared a batch of composted material earlier in the week, and it was time to spread it over the plants that had been growing for the longest. Arpious helped scatter the compost around the base of the plants, mixing it lightly into the top layer of soil to provide additional nutrients.
She noted that the herbs—such as rosemary and thyme—were particularly resilient, and didn't require as much compost. "They need just a little extra care to help them through the winter," she said, brushing her hand over the earthy smell of the fresh compost. "But they'll thrive even in the coldest months."
