It’s broccoli season at last, three weeks later than last year for the first harvest. Planted a little later than most years, I avoided the the cabbage moth butterflies and the eventual worms.

This is my favorite variety, Premium Crop. I’ve grown it in Massachusetts and many seasons here in California. The heads are especially large, tight and the side shoots plentiful. 

The Tuscan kale produces faithfully with the winter rains and very little attention. It’s the only variety I planted this year in my abbreviated version of the winter garden.

I do like the magenta veins and the blue-green leaves of the Red Winter Kale but the Tuscan variety is so nice in salads and soups. Perhaps next year I’ll plant them both.

Couldn’t miss the magenta and blue-green of a bouquet in my living room.

Another winter salad with garden arugula, lettuce, oranges and calendula petals.

All is well, broccoli has begun and purple cauliflower can’t be too far away.