It is not often that I am fully taken aback by the comings and goings of the garden. The garden, itself, is almost an entity. There is an ever evolving life taking place in amongst the plants and critters that dwell in the confines of the Small Gardens especially in the vegetable plots. Nothing should ever be doubted. Nothing should ever be taken as a given. Either way. What you think will never work, sometimes shouts "Hey! Look at me now!" and the very thing that you think should flourish from the get-go, comes to a dismal end.
We have not had much winter as of yet and you would think that would be a happy event for the plants. Not so. Most winter crops need that cold for protection from critters. A winter vegetable garden is usually comprised more of cold hardy plants such as cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli. There is a reason for this. These are lovely greens that are the mainstay diet of caterpillars. Butterflies and moths are supposed to be dormant in winter which allows the greens to grow undisturbed. Without the frigid air, the butterflies are out and about which means the garden is taking a beating from caterpillars. My plants greatly resemble green lace! It is saddening since my standards of gardening do not allow for chemical laden leaves. I refuse to spray toxins on the plants that I wish to eat.
Imagine my surprise this morning after finally getting to the garden after a few days break doing building projects. There amid the lovely "lace plants" was a beautiful head of broccoli just waiting to be picked! Somehow, the egg-laying butterflies and moths missed this one and in just three days time, the head grew to fully harvesting size! Surprises of this sort are exciting to me. Maybe I have been quarantined as "Queen of the Small Gardens" a little too long when the highlight of my day is a head of broccoli...but...whatever works. We shall dine royally this evening!
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