Humus

You can feel it under your feet and you can see it in the colors: the soil is different here. In this area, it’s protected by the snow longer than in other parts of the garden. And so, under the surface a special kind of soil forms, perfect for rhododendrons and blueberries, and for many types of lichens. It’s called humus, and is composed of organic substances, the product of the decomposition of plant and animal matter. In other words, of living or once-living things. Underneath us, there is an invisible world of microorganisms and bacteria. It is their secret work, combined with the action of water and minerals, that make this environment perfect for "gnarled shrubs".