A favorite blue flower, and yours is____?

[Kea]

I love blue flowers and my garden is full of them so I couldn't choose....but don't forget clematis and hardy geranium.

[Kea]

[1066]

I used to have a lovely blue clematis in my old garden, it was an early one so the flowers were even more appreciated.

I only have agapanthus in the garden this year, but looking at this thread feels like looking at a shoping list for next year!

here's a pic of my agapanthus

[saddad]

Ours are just trying to open in the rain...  :)

[Georgie]

Ours are just trying to open in the rain...  :)

Same here.

Here are my favourites this year so far.



G x

[Squash64]

I grow Cardoons because my husband likes to eat them, so the flower is a bonus.

[BarriedaleNick]

squash64 - what a lovely pic - I was going to add artichoke myself but I always thought of them as purple!



They are stunning down our plot as they are grown in huge numbers..

[Squash64]

squash64 - what a lovely pic - I was going to add artichoke myself but I always thought of them as purple!
They are stunning down our plot as they are grown in huge numbers..

Thanks, yours is beautiful - I like the bee!
I hesitated too because they are probably not a true blue but purple as you say.
You say you have huge numbers on your site - do you have huge numbers of Italians too? ;D

[BarriedaleNick]

squash64 - How did you guess?!   ;D

Yep we have a good few Italians - most in their 70s, smoke like chimmneys and they grow great stuff including loads of artichokes!

[GrannieAnnie]

I grow Cardoons because my husband likes to eat them, so the flower is a bonus.

I'd be interested in how you prepare cardoons having never eaten one here. Can they be grown from seed and are they perennial?

[caroline7758]

Are cardoons and artichokes the same?

[Squash64]

I'd be interested in how you prepare cardoons having never eaten one here. Can they be grown from seed and are they perennial?

I don't know how English people would cook them, but what we do is to scrape the stems to remove the fibres, cut them into pieces and then steam them.  I drizzle olive oil on them with a little salt and black pepper. It is only the stems that we eat, not the flower heads like artichokes.
I grew mine from seed and yes, they are perennial.  Only problem with them is that they grow into massive plants so you need plenty of room.

[shirlton]

I had some seed from Emma Jane a couple of years ago and this year they are about 15ft high. Shall need step ladders to look at the flowers. I know that the victorians used to eat them. Should imagine they taste like chard and i don't like that

[Squash64]

Are cardoons and artichokes the same?

They are members of the same family, Cynara.  Artichokes are much less spiny than cardoons which is probably why we eat only the stems of cardoons. I think that when they are in flower they look pretty much the same.  Last year we sold cardoon flowers at our Summer Fayre because they are very popular with flower arrangers.  The bees love them too. :)

[Squash64]

I had some seed from Emma Jane a couple of years ago and this year they are about 15ft high. Shall need step ladders to look at the flowers. I know that the victorians used to eat them. Should imagine they taste like chard and i don't like that

It's a bit difficult to define the taste, to me it is a bit 'smokey'.  My sister in law steams them like I do, but then dips them in egg and flour and fries them.  They are really nice like that, but heavy on the calories. :(

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've never tried eating them, but I believe you're supposed to blanch the stems then boil it. English cooking is really boring!

[Squash64]

I've never tried eating them, but I believe you're supposed to blanch the stems then boil it. English cooking is really boring!

Yes, blanching is the English (boring) way :) I've never heard of Italians doing it though.

[Georgie]

Agapanthus now out.   :)

G x

[angle shades]

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my favourite/ shades x :)

[1066]

Angle Shades - beautiful but I have to fess up and ask what is it?

1066

[Squash64]

Lovely photo Shades, I really like it when the subject is in focus and the background is blurred.
Is it Borage?