These are artichokes that have gone to flower. Artichokes are flowers that you can eat.
If I wanted to eat these, I would have picked them (cut them)before they flowered to prepare them, but I love these purple flowers. Pollinators like bees love them too.
Not everyone in the world has artichokes. I thought everyone knew what an artichoke was!
Years ago I had friends visiting from China, who were completely astonished and interested in artichokes, because they had never seen them before.
Artichokes are from the THISTLE family.
Do you eat them?
Grow them?
Know what they are?
Artichokes are a tough flower, with a little barb-like point at the end of each leaf. They are not always easy to prepare.
Once in Italy at the outdoor market I saw them really removing their hard leaves quickly with a knife, over and over like this....amazing!
To prepare artichokes (when they are green) to eat:
I wash them
Then cut off all of the pointy ends
Wash again
Then boil with salt and a couple garlics for 1-2 hours until you can put a fork through the bottom very easily
Then serve with Lemon Juice, Garlic and Salt (blended into a sauce) for dipping.
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Ciao e Grazie!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing
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Thanks @gardengirlcanada
Where are you in the Great White North? :)
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I am located in the Eastern Ontario Ottawa Valley area. Thanks
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@gardengirlcanada Ottawa is lovely! I've had some great food in Ottawa...at The Table and The Green Door...do you know them?
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Yes and have enjoyed a meal at both places. I am located about an hour north of Ottawa, in a smaller community on the Ottawa River.
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Cool pics, good info, thanks for posting ;)
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Thanks @Alinix !
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I know this plan in prepared green version I never new they had such an amazing flower and color!! Thanks for teaching me something new :D
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Thanks @pointtojoin --they can be even more vibrant....see how the outer leaves are really dry and "thistle-like"? I see them also with the outer leaves really green and hydrated still and then the middle is even more lush and purple and can be teeming with bees!
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Great pictures!
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Thanks @elevator09
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Awesome post @micheletrainer!! We just had artichokes with dinner last night. My son and I love them. I fix them sort of the way you do but I put a lot of parsley from my garden in the leaves along with salt, pepper, and garlic. Then EVOO over the top. Boil in a sauce pan for about an hour. So good!!
I assume you are from Cal? I don't think I can grow them here in PA.
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@garden-to-eat yes in California and your way sounds amazing too...I love parsley! I'd love to hear more parsley ideas too!
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I've been doing mostly gardening posts since I joined since tis is the season. As the summer wines down I'll probably do some of grandma's recipes. She used to be a great cook and most of my menus are based on her simple Italian recipes. But to get back to point, I use parsley for seasoning fish, soups, sometimes meats and vegetables. I'll post in more detail in the future. Thanks.
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beautiful i never seen an artichoke flower before
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I know next to nothing about artichokes but you just made me reaaaaaallly hungry. If you don't know why, google 'artichoke pizza nyc'.
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@idonteven wow that sounds delicious
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Good vegucation Michele! I love artichoke dip in restaurants but have never cooked them myself! Thanks!
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@AnnHoyBlog cooking them sometimes takes forever. Smaller ones or half'ing them can cut down time. Lmk if u try!,xo
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