When I planted the kales and cabbages this past September, the trees were barely beginning to turn the golds and yellows that are autumn at
Clay and Limestone. Autumn is lovely, but, it gives way to months of winter when there is more brown than white covering the ground. More color is needed in the garden.
I plant cabbages, kales and mustards for immediate impact and with an eye to the future~The serrated and fringed leaves of flowering cabbages grab attention and keep it all winter long.
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| A feather leaf kale shimmers in the rain |
The feather leaves of kale shimmer with diamond raindrops in our wet winters.
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| fringed leaf kale dancing in the snow! |
Mild winters with only occasional snow means we need cabbages for long term daily garden duty. Many cabbages and kales have been planted in beds and containers. Tulips, daffodils, violas and wallflowers have been planted with them.
Early in October, the kales and mustards hosted the colchicums that were planted at their feet.
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| colchicum and kale |
All the kales and cabbages will survive what ever winter throws at them (they are hardy to -10*).
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| Cabbage flowers |
Next spring they'll send up the sweetest flowers just in time for~
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| IRIS |
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| COSTCO TULIPS |
and,
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| VIOLAS |
So, trust me, no matter how tattered they look after your long winter~Let them be and you may see
Cabbage flowers everywhere.
xxoogail
