A cloche (sounds like “klosh”) is a bell-shaped glass or plastic cover that gardeners place over young plants to protect them from cold weather, frost, and hungry insects. Picture an upside-down glass bowl sitting over a tender seedling in early spring. The cloche acts like a miniature greenhouse, trapping warmth from the sun while shielding the plant from chilly winds. French gardeners invented cloches centuries ago, and market gardeners once used thousands of them in their fields, moving them from plant to plant as seedlings grew strong enough to survive on their own.

The word also refers to a close-fitting, bell-shaped women's hat that was fashionable in the 1920s. These hats fit snugly over the head and had a rounded dome shape, much like the garden covers. When you see old photographs from that era, many women are wearing cloche hats pulled down low over their foreheads.

In restaurants, you might encounter a metal cloche covering a fancy dish. When the server lifts it with a flourish, steam rises and reveals the meal underneath. This dramatic presentation keeps food hot and builds anticipation, whether the cloche is protecting a gourmet dinner or a garden plant.