I've been wanting to cut back the artichoke plant for weeks. But every time I went out to look at it, another flower had opened, and the bees were all over the place. Didn't have the heart to chop down a bee resource. So I waited...Then a couple of days ago I noticed that all of the artichoke flowers had finally opened. So, I made a bee bouquet and put it in the backyard.
A friend told me she saw artichoke flowers for sale at an Oakland farmer's market...$5 a stem. I guess that makes this a $30 bouquet - wow! Maybe I should put that in the garden harvest tally... Plus all the other artichoke flowers that bloomed while still on the plant; there's been at least a dozen over the last couple of months.
Now, I can cut back the artichoke plant like I'm supposed to! Had to use a saw...the main stalks were a few inches thick. Now, I'm hoping for a fall crop of artichokes, though my "bee-love" may have made me miss that opportunity :)
6 comments:
It is good of you to think of the bees when it comes to artichoke. Nature requires some kind of sharing...
~bangchik
Stems few inches thick?! Wow, Jackie, what giants you have there! Bouquet is VERY pretty!
Those are pretty! Did you get bumble bees in them? When my chokes bloomed the bumbles would get so deep into the stamens that they looked like they were swimming.
(Makes note to self) Must chop those 'chokes out front down!
Agh. I can feel fall's chore list rumbling while it is still full summer-run time here!
What a lovely display of artichokes! I love it!
Thanks for all of your kind comments. And yes, Michelle, I did get bee "swimmers". So much fun! -Jackie
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