This is such an echo of my own gardener, John - now gone almost 5 years. It was his joy and palette. I'm not a gardener at all. At first I tried a bit, but am more of an 'indoor cat' and my heart was not in it. The perennials continue faithfully, but this spring I decided to let it go wild and no longer fret about it! I too have stayed in our home.

Nice to meet you and best wishes!