Colour from Ornamental Cabbages

We have been plunged back into severe winter weather again. The temperature this morning is -22C (windchill -28C) and tomorrow will be a few degrees colder.

globalnews.ca/video/3229197/snow-route-parking-ban-for-ca...

There is a Snowfall Warning Alert in effect continuing today, Monday, 6 February 2017. It snowed overnight, but it's falling more lightly at the moment.

"Issued at 10:33 Sunday 05 February 2017.
A long period of snowfall, with total amounts of 15 to 25 cm continues." Isn't that what we all just longed to hear, lol?!

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This photo was taken on 11 November 2016, when my daughter and I had a day out together. We started off at 9:00 am and drove straight to the Saskatoon Farm for breakfast - I had a delicious meal of quiche and sweet potato fries. On a quick wander round the grounds, these Ornamental Cabbage or Flowering Kale were the only plants with colour. The rest had all gone to seed.

"Ornamental cabbage and kale are very close relatives of edible cabbages and kale. They are in the same species, Brassica oleracea, and although they are still edible, they aren’t as tasty and tender as their cousins. They have been bred for looks, not flavor.

Although sometimes referred to as flowering cabbages, it’s the leaves that give the plants their color and interest as ornamentals. Rather than the usual green or purple of traditional cabbages, the leaves of ornamental cabbages and kale have been hybridized to feature rosy and/or creamy white colors, making them look more like flowers than vegetables."

gardening.about.com/od/plantprofile1/p/Orn_Cabbage.htm

This interesting place is maybe a 20-minute drive SE from the southern edge of Calgary. You can collect your own Saskatoon berries in season, look around their outside green houses, and their inside gift shop full of unusual things, and buy special baking, jams, teas and so on. They also have a restaurant that offers great food.

www.saskatoonfarm.com/

We then drove west into Okotoks, to go to the antique store, All Around the House" and to the Christmas Market being held in the town.

From here, for some insane reason, we drove as far as Millarville to go to their annual Christmas Market. I don't think I have ever seen as many cars anywhere, for anything! It was totally crazy, with endless vehicles lined up along various nearby roads, waiting to be able to park in the fields, as the market parking lot was full most of the time. Thankfully, they had arranged for two or three small school buses to transport people from the field to the Market. Some people chose to get a wagon ride instead. Later, when we were ready to leave, we had to wait for a bus again. More time (hours?) was spent waiting for buses than was spent actually walking around the huge Market. Once inside, it was absolutely packed, so you couldn't really get to any of the booths to look at things, anyway. I think we've both decided that this would be our last annual trip to this Market! We know that it would be much more relaxing and fun to be driving the back roads, looking for birds and other things to photograph : ) However, for me, the main reason for this day was to spend precious time with my daughter, so it was a good day. Thanks, Rachel!