As the gardening year winds down and the tools are cleaned and put away, it is the perfect time for reflection.

Every season has its own distinct rhythm, its unique set of challenges and delights. Looking back, I am pleased to report that the 2025 season was, overall, a resounding success. It was a year characterized by stunning floral displays in the front garden and a vigorous, if occasionally contested, harvest in the back.

Here is a look back at the year that was in the garden.

For those who enjoy the metrics of success, here is the season broken down by the numbers:

Total Harvest Weight: Over 63 lbs of fruit/vegetables/herbs

Community Sharing: 49 propagated plants were sold to new homes throughout the season

Star Ornamental: The 'Apricot' Cosmos

Star Vegetables: Elephant Garlic & Tuscan Kale

Most Troublesome Pests: Cabbage Moths and the mystery rodent that stole the beets

If I had to define 2025 in a few words, it would be "abundance and adaptation." We started strong with a glorious spring display and maintained visual interest right through to autumn. The vegetable patch provided enormous satisfaction and a fair amount of sustenance, totalling over 60 pounds of homegrown produce. While we faced the usual skirmishes with pests, the victories far outweighed the defeats. It was a thoroughly rewarding year to get growing.

The season began with absolute brilliance. The tulips were, without a doubt, the "jewels of the garden" and provided that essential early burst of colour that every gardener craves after winter.

Following the bulbs, the front borders were maintained by a marvellous display of poppies and cosmos which offered tremendous visual appeal. A particular highlight was a new variety for me, the 'Apricot' cosmos. It performed wonderfully, and I have made sure to collect seeds to ensure its return next year.

In the backyard vegetable patch, we had some real stars. The elephant garlic was a revelation. It was fun to grow, impressive to look at, and incredibly tasty. It has earned a permanent spot in the rotation. The brassicas also thrived. The bok choy was excellent, and the kale, specifically Tuscan, purple, and curly varieties, was bountiful. We simply could not eat it fast enough!

Of course, a garden without challenges is not a real garden. Our primary disappointment this year involved the beets. They grew magnificently underground, but just as they reached perfection, something devoured the entire crop. I suspect it was a rather enterprising rat or chipmunk. It was a feast for wildlife, sadly, rather than for us.

We also faced the quintessential brassica battle against the cabbage moth. They descended upon the kale later in the season with frustrating determination.

Gardening is a constant education. The battle with the cabbage moths taught me a valuable lesson in timing and infrastructure. While I utilized white netting early on, which successfully protected the young plants, I failed to anticipate their upward growth. As the kale matured, it pushed against the netting and allowed the moths to lay their eggs through the mesh. Next year, taller supports for the netting will be essential as the season progresses.

The success of the kale has also encouraged me to be bolder next year. Given how well it performed and how much we enjoyed it, I plan to trial even more varieties in 2026.