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. James Golden30 July 2012 at 15:14

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)30 July 2012 at 19:02

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

      Delete
  2. Our French Inspired Home30 July 2012 at 15:42

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)30 July 2012 at 19:07

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

      Delete
  3. Anonymous30 July 2012 at 18:28

    sooooo pretty !!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bangchik and Kakdah30 July 2012 at 20:32

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)30 July 2012 at 20:56

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

      Delete
  5. LivesArt30 July 2012 at 20:52

    wonderfully !!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. sweetbay31 July 2012 at 19:16

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. Diane1 August 2012 at 20:23

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)2 August 2012 at 22:12

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

      Delete
  8. Anna2 August 2012 at 22:06

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)2 August 2012 at 22:13

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

      Delete
  9. Jess7 August 2012 at 06:30

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)7 August 2012 at 09:17

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

      Delete
  10. Pat10 August 2012 at 14:51

    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!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment