The gardener has a long, touchy-feely relationship with the soil. As every good cultivator knows, you assess the earth by holding it. Is it dark and crumbly, is there an earthworm or beetle in there, is it moist, and when you smell it, are you getting that pleasant earthy aroma?
All these signs are reassuring, and have been through the ages, but they are mere indicators of something much greater and infinitely mysterious: a hidden universe beneath our feet.
Uncover a glimpse of this cosmos, which is only now revealing itself as a result of scientific discoveries based on better microscopic imaging and DNA analysis. See Saturday’s Style to learn just what it is that really makes your garden grow.