When I was out watering Friday morning, I was delighted to see that the artichoke had bloomed at last. This was the first and largest of the artichokes on the plant. I have harvested all five smaller ones (and they were delicious.)
I took that one picture and went on with my watering, waiting for the sunlight to hit the artichoke . . .
The sun was well up but a tall tree at the foot of the garden was blocking it. I finished my watering and waited for the sun to reach the artichoke. For about ten minutes I watched the light creep along, plant by plant.
Rather a Zen-like exercise, I thought.
And finally . . .
The artichoke alight!
20 comments:
Zen, and the Artichoke of Garden-cycle Maintenance, Vicki!
She's a beauty!
Very pretty-and tasty too, pretty quick!
Very pretty. I never knew, so have already learned something new today.
I never saw an artichoke in bloom, so thank you for this. Will you save the seeds, let the birds have them?
How lovely! Now I want to grow artichokes just for the flowers!
nice...that artichoke is beautiful...dont know if i have ever seen one in bloom honestly...how cool....
Well worth waiting for! I didn't know artichokes bloomed either. Beautiful world....
A vegetable which looks like a flower!
Beautiful!
Besides being beautiful...is the flower useful for a. eating or b. seeds? Not knowing ....just c. appreciating.
Ha, love your title - and Martin's comment! It was worth waiting for the sunshine. I am not closely acquainted with artichokes but it looks pretty, related to a thistle perhaps? But the zen of waiting....is why I'll never be a great landscape photographer!
Lovely! Seeing it in bloom makes it quite clear why what you have to remove before cooking and eating is called the thistle. We've only grown them once and only got one choke from the plant. They look a bit prehistoric, don't they?
Hope you're keeping cool!
Martin, I love that! But it's too hot already for my to match you with a clever comeback.
Artichokes are perennial (in the right climate) thistles. I will try to save the seeds.
According to this article
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/4796/how-to-grow-artichokes/page/all
letting many of the buds flower weakens the plant -- not to mention that you don't get to eat that particular globe. The article says a plant can produce up to 30 artichokes a year -- we've gotten 6 so far.
Thank you for this beautiful blog and real evidence that we can grow artichokes in this climate. I was told they were "ornamental" only. Did you start with a plant or cutting? I think we picked the right days to go back to W-S for a few days since living in the Airstream would like being in a toaster oven on high. LOL!
This is the very first time I ever saw an artichoke blossom! I'm totally impressed that you can grow them around here.
I love how you were in tune with the light, with the environment, as you waited with the artichoke flower. I have never seen an artichoke flower, so thank you for this gift!
I wish I had the get-up-and-go for before sun up rituals. When I get up the early sun has already disappeared behind the rain clouds again. Talk to me at midnight, though. I'm bright then.
Very pretty!!! Have a grand week! Cathy
Ooh, I love artichokes! My mama used to stuff them with a mixture of chopped mushroom, breadcrumbs and other stuff, but I lack the patience. Also, I'm a follower again. I noticed I hadn't been getting updates from you, so I looked for me in your follower's list and I wasn't there! Which kind of ticks me off, as I believe I was one of your first followers. I wish Blogger or Google or whoever would quit messing around!
Sorry, Victoria -- I don't think it was anything I did -- good old Blogger, up to its tricks, I guess.
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