The harvest continues with behind-the-scenes activity

The annual good gardening awards have been distributed at the North Street Community Garden by Portland Parks and Recreation staff, and Henry (rear) and Andrew (front), shown here with their ribbons, are recipients of two awards. As in the past, tidy gardens with unusual growing systems drew ribbons, along with those which used a diagonal path or planting layout. Critters, too, follow the progress of the gardens with interest, and squirrels, skunks, woodchucks and opossums spend their days or nights stalking grapes, peaches and pears. This cage was bought a couple of days ago to assist with the removal of a pair of fruit loving squirrels, now relocated to East Deering. Today I came home from work to find no chewed fruit on the patio, for the first time--maybe the peaches will make it to harvest.