Cardoon


 The Cardoon Cynara cardunculus 'Porto Spineless', is putting out luminous thistle flowers now.  I could eat the leaf stems if I wanted, the Italians love 'em, deep fried, cardi fritti. However, it's too handsome a plant to deconstuct and cook. Same applies to the artichoke below.


The buds of Violette de Provence are opening up. I've watched bees taking off with unfeasibly large pollen sacs, like a weightlifter's legs, after a pollen collecting frenzy from this flower.



Comments

  1. I love cardoons and artichokes and so wish I could grow them. Beautiful plants.

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    1. I'm guessing it's a little too damp over at yours.

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  2. Both are beautiful. I have not seen cardoons before, but these look amazing. Hard to resist taking the artichoke into the kitchen! Have a great day.

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    1. Thanks, I like the foliage better on Cardoon. The artichoke leaves look a little tired as the Summer goes on.

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  3. sooooo pretty !!!

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  4. beautiful purple flower..... there should be a lot of nectar for bees!

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    1. Thanks, it's totally buzzing with bees and hoverflies.

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  5. I didn't know that artichoke had such a lovely blue-violet flower. The cardoon too.

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  6. I have never heard of a cardoon, presumably the same family as the artichoke by the look of it. They are beautiful. Diane

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    1. Thanks Diane. They're the same family. Hope you're enjoying this nice spell of weather.

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  7. I would continue to admire the plants in your garden Rob - simply too good to eat. I smiled at the thought of bees with weightlifter's legs.

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    1. Cheers Anna. Those bees go mad for the pollen on the artichoke.

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  8. oh, those artichokes would have definitely been eaten before this point!

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    1. Aha exactly! It's not easy, but I had to resist and see the choke flower.

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  9. Hi Rob,
    Sitting in McDonald's Sarlat enjoying their wifi! We are in Le Roque till Sunday when we head back to Paris. We'll be missing the big fete next week, bad planning on my part!

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