Alexi asked me to send pictures. Thanks, Alexi. I need those kinds of invitations sometimes. This is my 4th season of gardening here in Bridgeport. It’s one of the things I like best about living here. The garden is right down the street, almost close enough to be my backyard. Let me say that this year I’ve been less active than last, getting a later start, and doing much less planning. My daughter gave me her extra seedlings, and that got me into the garden finally. Thanks, Emilie! They went into the ground on May 17th ~ ten tomato plants, four eggplant, 8-10 basil, and two peppers. For the most part, this year is more about feeding the pollinators than feeding myself. I get food stamps, I’m not desperate. My focus has been on allowing the flowering perennials that came up early to remain when other gardeners pulled them out as unwanted weeds. Most of what is in my bed came by itself and has something to offer the bees and butterflies, and that’s exciting.
TEA TALKS with ROBIN 
It’s wonderful that you like gardening, it’s such a healthy activity. I love my potted plants, but a garden is overwhelming to me. It’s great that you have edible perennials too – the perfect garden. There was a deer in my mom’s garden yesterday and I was happy it found some tasty nibbles.
Hi, Cheryl. Don’t know why I didn’t see your response earlier! For some reason I went back to read this post and saw it 🙂 My garden looks really different now. Just today I basically covered over everything except the arugula which is still surviving. I spread some seaweed over part of it (from the beach at Seaside Park ), and leaves and straw and food scraps from the kitchen. Cardboard on top of all that. We’ll see how the soil is come spring. It should be full of worms and better able to support whatever I plant. I enjoy all those kind of jobs – building a compost bin, amending the soil, gathering leaves, and harvesting stuff. There are different tasks for each season, so it’s never boring. I’m putting everybody to bed for the winter now, and tucking it all in with as much mulch as I can, so the ground will be protected, and the roots of the perennials will stay warm. Happy little plants! Happy gardener 🙂
You’re such a hard worker and I’m sure your garden will thrive!