Broccoli Flowers, Brown leaves of Spirea and Maple

What I found in my tiny backyard today.

Flowering Broccoli: Photo by Author

Broccoli

Early in the spring I sowed broccoli seeds directly on the ground, and I forgot about it. My tiny backyard is full of such what I call “experiments.”  I sometimes “buried” potatoes that have sprouted and harvested a bucket-full of potatoes later in the year. 

Broccoli bud: Photo by Author

By any gardening standard, my broccoli was a total failure.  I never harvested a big round broccoli, but only bunch of small buds like the photos came out.  Whenever these buds came out, I plucked them before they flowered, tossed them into my fried rice.  It was tasty enough.

Then we went for a trip to Vienna over Thanksgiving.  By the time we came back, the tiny buds grew large and yellow flowers blossomed all over. 

The bright yellow flowers showed sign of full life in the shivering cold weather.  But a sudden gust knocked off the tallest stem right after I took the picture.  Oh no!  It will wilt soon!  Before it wilts down, can I enjoy the flowers a little longer?

Brown Leaves of Spirea

Spirea bush: Photo by Author

The spirea leaves were turning colors to orange and brown (yes, Brown!), so were maple leaves.  Why not combine these to capture the end of autumn/ the beginning of winter?

Here is my tiny Ikebana arrangement taken from our tiny backyard.  I hope you enjoy it, too.