March 26, 2012

My vegetable garden hovers near the tipping point that leads to the summer garden. Some crops like the beets, carrots and purple sprouting broccoli are finally ready to harvest, while others smart from the warmer weather and will soon pass from the scene. 

The sturdy parsley plant in the foreground attempts to set seed and is about three feet tall. I foil nature’s imperative and snatch the flowers for bouquets. Out of view is a volunteer purple larkspur that emerged in the middle of the parsley.

The Queen Anne’s lace-like flowers of the parsley work well with the larkspur, which will set seed soon enough.

I am sorry to see the arugula depart. The flavor and texture begin to offend, so I use less in a salad. The contrast to the ‘Sea of Red’ lettuce in front and the 'Bright Lights’ Swiss chard behind justifies its place for a few more weeks. A bolting red spinach from Seeds of Change joins the arugula flowers in the bouquet.

My husband’s comment: This is the “post edible garden.”