This is what ornamental cabbage looks like when it goes to seed. It’s mixed with onions, sweet peas and nasturtiums. It’s really beautiful from a distance. Up close it’s a mess. It’s not supposed to be grown in hot soil. It was ornamental for a few weeks and then, like a hungry teenager, it grew into a monster. It was supposed to stay small and cute. Our landlady, from China, has asked for enough seeds to grow these in her own garden. She likes it growing out of control. When we give her an envelope of seed, we’ll have to tell her how to amend the soil. The sweet peas are perhaps 40% too high. They have grown well beyond the large structure I built for them and strung with two balls of twine. There is a mad flowering taking place well above the structure and above where we can reach. A rainbow of sweet smelling flowers on long stems. Next year I suspect they will grow more like they are suppose to, unless my neighbor can’t help amending the soil again. I think he finds that fun. I find there’s no use explaining things to him. He figures out what he’s doing as he does it. I suspect his parents gave up trying to explain neatness and putting things away. But at least the plants are growing. In fact, they are growing with abandon.