Roots

I was spading around in one corner of the garden this morning and dug up this root. At first I though it was a garden hose or a power line, it's so thick. I cut it in half and discovered that it ran crosswise across the corner, out from under one fence wall and back under the other. I also don't know why the soil in that corner has that bluish, ashy look. 

There's some ivy growing shyly between the daphne and the house. It doesn't seem interested in climbing or venturing out.

The northern corner (jade and basil). I thought I'd photograph things from a different angle today.

The eastern corner, with the struggling stephanotis.

Eastish along the fence

Southish along the fence.