Strange purple cabbage.

One of the red cabbages did not make a head.  Each of its interior levels grew above the one before, forming a strange, flowery tower as it went.

Frankly, it looks weird.

Being a little weird myself, though, I let it have garden room.  It didn’t get harvested with all the others, either, but continued to add levels.

(If I were a serious gardener, of course, this mutant cabbage would have been removed quickly, to be replaced with something more productive or pretty.  But you’ve probably figured out by now that curiosity and playfulness and fun have equally strong presences in my garden as either of those two.)

As time passed, I even began to grow fond of this aberrant cabbage and, without realizing I’d done so, gave it a name, rather like I did with Mophead in last year’s kitchen garden.

After surveying the wreckage of our latest fallen tree and having a lovely encounter with a preying mantis a few days ago, I realized Pagoda was glowing in the half-light of dusk, clearly wanting to have his portrait taken.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage it without the flash.  But you get the idea….

"Pagoda" of cabbage.

I wonder how tall the structure can go before first frost.

Remember, it’s still not too late to enter into the random drawing for free blog-birthday presents.  Here’s the link to do so.  Entries will close tonight at midnight, Eastern Standard time.

I’ve been touched and honored by all your lovely responses so far.  It was a much bigger bash than I was expecting, and your kindness and generosity mean more than I can say.

Thank you for celebrating with me.

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Remember how I was on the lookout for the postmodern-designer insect who’s taken up residence in the kitchen garden?  And I was kind of worried about my sanity…

Well, now I can quit worrying.  He revealed himself today during a break in the rain.

When I first glanced down at this little guy in the parsley, he was flexing his wings as though to fly.  So I said to him, “Could you hold on just one minute so I can photograph you?”  And then he got really still and waited for me to take his portrait.  (I promise, I am not making this up.)

He wasn’t even disconcerted by my leaning down closer and closer — or by the flash.

But as the flash went off, I thought, “Oh, no, he’s trapped.”  You know how some insects get caught in the tension in a water droplet and cannot get out?  That’s what I thought had happened when his shiny shell caught the light.  I was ready to free him however I could, perhaps by bursting the tension of the lingering raindrop, and leaned forward until my nose was inches from him.  That’s when I realized who he was.

This bug is wearing a see-thru rainslicker.  A designer mackintosh, if you will.  Notice how it even has a matching rain hat.  Did he make it from a discarded contact lens that fell out of our trash bin?  I’m forced to consider the possibility.

And it’s such a professional cut!  I might have to ask the bug to teach me to sew.  (I’m starting sewing lessons with a human in October, Goddess willing, which I’m so excited about as I’ve wanted to learn for years — but I doubt if my human teacher has these kinds of skills!  I mean these are mad skills!  It’s practically form-fitting, but it’s not too tight.)

So the jig is up.  Yep.

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