We’re trying some new things in our vegetable garden this year, one of which is garlic.  Last November we planted a variety of different bulbs, covered them, and waited for the spring to see if they survived the winter.  They shot up through the ground and just this weekend we were able to begin a harvest of a couple of the earlier types.  It was a treat to dig up the bulbs from the ground and see their size and color.  This particular variety is called Xian and has these beautiful reddish-purple stripes to it.  They’ll now hang to dry, and soon I’ll be able to report on their taste.  But if their flavor is as good as their photo-worthiness we should be in great shape!