A Glow in the Mulch

A faint circle of pale white light appeared in the dark mulch ahead. I traced it upward to a small solar garden stake pushed deep into the soil. Its black plastic casing had gathered a thin film of dried dust. Standing beneath the hooded lamp, I reached up and pressed my palm against the cool metal stem to check its footing in the ground. It was firmly seated. From this low canopy, the frosted LED casts a quiet boundary along the garden border. I leaned back against the support post, watching the shadows stretch across the pine needles.