A Firm Probe

I stepped away from the base of the terracotta pot toward the rim of the porch curb. The drop down to the garden path was lined with loose cedar mulch. Before committing my boots to the soft ground, I picked up a straight, dry stem lying against the brickwork. It was rigid and smooth. Pressing its brittle tip against the edge of the concrete snapped away the dry buds cleanly. The remaining shaft seated securely into my cupped hand. Leaning over the curb, I thrust the blunt tip into the mulch bed to measure its depth. The chips compacted under the pressure and held firm.