A is for Artichoke

Does she have it made or what! She's in my spot. Pictured is my charming kitty Pansy. She's about 10yrs old and adopted me when I first met her. All Summer long this is where she resides, unless I beat her to the chair first. The lounge was a Mother's Day gift from my family a couple of years ago. A place to relax and rejuvenate, read stories, have a refreshing margarita. All the good stuff. I try to get there as much as I can, but most of the time I wander off to visit my vegetable garden and see what there is to pick and snack on.

Mostly I plant veggies you can just pluck and eat. Peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans and the like. But I thought I would try my hand at artichokes this year and I think next year I will be adding a couple more. They are the most impressive plants. Tall and sculptural yielding beautiful crowns of thick sturdy olive green heads.

We planted pumpkins too, the big mammoth sized ones. I do not think we are going to get very big ones this year unless I pick off some of those giant leaves which I hate to do and/or we get allot more sunshine. It has been a beautiful Summer in the Pacific NW but not enough really hot days yet for good pumpkin growing...
You can see where I get my inspiration. I have been painting fruit and vegetables for years and I never get tired of doing them.
This is year two on the perennial garden above which takes up most of the back yard. Pictured below is last years shot plus I did a post on that which you are welcome to visit.
There is an saying that goes, first year sleeps, second year creeps, third year leaps. I think my garden skipped the second year sleeps and lept right into the summer this season. Quite a difference in the two photos!?