Artichoke in Bloom!

Wow! How beautiful is this?! This happens when an artichoke grows old on the plant and the top leaves open up. The color doesn't stay, but turns brown eventually. I've saved many with long stems in an old watering can and they are still beautiful many years later.

Lovely Dried Artichoke Blooms!

A few weeks ago I posted a photo of my dried up artichoke plants and the new growth already over a foot high. Well, I finally got out the long extension cord and the Sawzall and in minutes had everything cut up and into trash barrels. The photo of the bloom I posted at that time needs to be trashed, because here are the two other blooms that were left on the plant.  WOW.  Next year I'll get a photo of the bloom before it dries up .... it's REALLY beautiful.