Signs of Life
Though the temperature has dipped near to and even below freezing, there are several plants in our yard I had left to fend for themselves that are not only still alive - but thriving. I found this after desperately needing flavor to add to my cupboard hodgepodge meal; which brought me to the back yard with a flashlight and a pair of $2 scissors. I figured I’d be settling for the bug-eaten and shriveled remains of our sage plant, but discovered it had amassed quite a growth of new leaves, shielded from the harsher weather by a canopy of larger leaves overhead. I found this behavior mirrored in the tarragon, the rosemary, and the catnip plants as well.
Other plants I found were going beyond basic winter survival and are, in fact, doing better than ever before. The brussels sprouts which had tried their hardest to die over the summer and fall have doubled in size, grown several sprout bulbs, and have turned from purple to green at the center. The same growth has been seen with the fennel, kale, and the dill as well - all being touted as “late summer / early fall” plants.
The yard is a breeding ground for other items such as weeds and fungi, but those I’m less proud about. No pictures there… I did, however, snap a few photos of various plants in the yard that have begun to show the hints of spring.
