Let’s see...planted 4 zucchini in my cedar raised bed and they have grown 4 times in size, taken over the 2 x 4 bed. All the veggie plants — cantaloupe, zucchini, cucumbers and eggplant have grown, but not like the cucumbers. Soon they’ll be ready to stake up. The flowers are amazing. I’ve got 55’ of fabulous roses, plus the strawberry plants I planted in the rose raised bed in the backyard. The neighborhood kids have now asked for a backyard “garden tour”, but it’s to steal my ripe strawberrie, heh heh. I only let them take the ripe ones. I am building a protective cage around 3 pots of strawberries to protect against squirrels from taking a bite and discarding them. The shady side of the yard is brimming with pulmonaria, fuchsia, hosta, heuchera, Japanese ferns, columbine, etc. The hydrangea bush is getting as tall as the fence. It will be blooming soon. The monarda, echinacea, and carnations will be blooming soon. The front yard has dianthus, delosperma, Japanese hollies, and various annuals in the stone planter. The 4 mini crape myrtles are waiting to bloom. The birds in the backyard like their feeders and the fountain made from salvaged galvanized tube and a solar powered pump. I just added a sunflower, because I like them. So, we have a good potential garden.
I’m so glad you’ve been able to get gardening in a bigger way than on your apartment balcony! Sounds lovely. I like sunflowers too and have a LOT of volunteers in my garden this season. Same with Calendula.
I have the same problem with my strawberries, but it’s those darn CUTE Chipmunks taking bites! We have ‘Earl & Pearl’ the Squirrels, too - but they prefer raiding the bird feeders.
Two raccoon were trapped and relocated in the past week, too. They like the suet baskets.
If I build it, they will come! ;)