The garden, newly planted.

The garden, this morning, still damp with dew (and maybe with yesterday afternoon’s watering). That’s a birch in the middle back. To the left, from back to front, will be cantaloupe, lettuces, spinach and chard, and the unplanted part is reserved for tomato and pepper plants. On the right are pole beans (hence the poles!), bush pumpkins, more cantaloupe, bush acorn squash, and zucchini.

My father-in-law advised against mulching, since the ground isn’t warm enough yet. My dad advised that I shouldn’t chop off the vine crops if they overgrow their beds, but I can redirect the tips — he says often the best fruits are at the ends.