This is our sixth spring in the Empire. W’s side garden has been transformed, but not without many patience-trying times and serial plant failures.

One example pictured below are the arbored yellow rose vines called Lady Banks. This plant was W’s third different specimen attempt in this small space to plant, grow, vine and flower. This was the Lady’s third season there and its first to show blooms. Plans are now excitedly underway to extend the arbor up and out, so the canes and scented blooms arch over the cobbled walkway and our garden cocktail chairs in the years to come.

Next is the end result of an unusual thing that happened to some ornamental cabbages we planted last fall. They were an afterthought selection late last year and a first time planting them here in the Empire for us.

Contrary to 20+ years of experience with them in Virginia and the Midwest, these plants suddenly shot upward this February nearly tripling the height of the cabbage part in less than two weeks before launching yellow flowering stalks that rocketed well past 6 feet in height.

Our 2022 Purple Hybrid ornamental cabbages
(normally 12-15 inches in greenery height with 6-10 inches of flower stalk height)

Gardening, like life, teaches us endless lessons in patience while it rewards the patient with joyous moments of surprise and resurrection.

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