Homesteading in suburbia - within the confines of a neighborhood Homeowners Association -
--- the "garden police" ! Eep!

I totally relate to this:

In some ways, I have a love-hate relationship with gardening... from the perspective that I don't really want to have to work anymore and yet the working I do when gardening — particularly pulling weeds and trimming trees and such things — serve me well as a way to get grounded and getting dirt on my hands brings me closer to nature as well.

June is underway.
The blue squash seed never came up, but last year's marigold seeds did (I planted them close by).
Fleabane, milkweed, our neighbor's pasture grass (none of it native, none wanted in my gardens) are all thriving where I should have planted more veggies.

Thanks for the post. I'm motivated now to go back out there, fight off the chiggers/ticks/poison ivy, and try get something edible and healthy to grow.