On a cool autumn afternoon, someone pushes unpeeled garlic cloves into garden soil, pointy ends up, a few inches apart and deep enough to cover with a light layer of earth. They water the spots gently.
The soil surface settles back to evenness moments later. No sprouts emerge, no difference shows. The bed looks unchanged.
Winter sets in with cold winds and frost. Weeks pass, turning into months. The planted area remains still under snow or bare earth, blending with the dormant garden.
Come early spring, slender green shoots thrust upward through the soil. They appear abruptly after a quiet thaw.
These grow tall through summer. By late season, yellowing leaves mark maturity. Lifting the plants uncovers firm, full bulbs developed out of sight.
Time held the growth invisible between the planting and the harvest.