Sunday, January 31, 2010

Artichokes

Algonquin College was growing a bed of artichokes last summer. I have only found out what they were, this past week. Before, I had them labelled as spiky things.

The flowers are beautiful and exotic, and the bees love them! Some flowers had four or five bees working in them.

I have been told about a pig farmer acquiring a lot of artichokes, and realizing after a couple of days, that the pig by-products were not nearly as fragrant as usual.

By experimenting, he found that feeding artichokes as 10% of the total diet, kept them that way.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

The blossoms are so pretty. I tried growing some artichokes one year. They have to be brought indoors for winter, wich I did, but lost them anyway. I may try try again some year.

These photos are wonderful!

George said...

I wish I had known about the effect artichokes have on pigs when I was growing up on a farm. I've never been a fan of artichokes, but that may have changed my mind. Actually, those 'spiky things' are very beautiful at all stages.

Clytie said...

I had never seen artichokes being grown before - just in the store. They are really beautiful, aren't they?

Jama said...

It's so pretty, I've never seen flowers like these here.

Unknown said...

I love them, they look amazing.

Tracy said...

In flower they are spectacular! And to eat an Italian artichoke...sooo good! Happy Day, Judy :o)

x_pEpPeRoNi_x said...

Interesting flowers! Oh, and the colours... :)

I like the close-up with the bee on it too..:D

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Judy: That is just a beautiful flower on the artichoke with a great color.

Pat's Addition said...

Gee, I'd hate to waste artichokes on the pigs!

Q said...

I shall see if I can grow them here. I would love too. Having food for the bees and for me is the best of both worlds.
Beautiful photographs too!
Sherry

April said...

These are wonderful pictures of artichokes!

ladycat said...

I love your flowers, a beautiful one!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Spiky things' seems like a good name really ! It is such a surprise that the artichoke flower is so beautiful. We saw fields of them in bloom one time, in California. Lovely photos -- and interesting facts!

DeniseinVA said...

Fascinating info! The blooms are almost like thistles. Lovely photos!

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I'm a 50 something female set loose on the world with a camera.