The Artichokes Have Arrived

A sure sign that we are in the middle of Spring (although you wouldn't know it by the weather today) is the beautiful artichokes are in full bud. I grow them for their amazing foliage and blooms, because these ones are just not that tasty.  If I am looking for a little drama in a garden bed, they are hard to beat, although they do take up some room. Stuffed artichokes will be on the menu next week, but I will have to pick up some good ones at the market and these lovelies will get to go all the way through their bloom cycle so we can enjoy their purple thistle flowers!