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What’s going on in your garden (2026)?

TastyReuben said:
I love artichokes, but as stupid as it sounds, I can’t figure out how to get from a whole globe artichoke to what you find in the little jars of artichoke hearts. All the recipes seem to favor stuffing them and eating them whole.
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I do love artichoke hearts, but I get a big jar from Costco and they were not eaten.
 
Morning Glory said:
A favourite of mine. You can microwave them. Easy!
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😱

TastyReuben said:
I love artichokes, but as stupid as it sounds, I can’t figure out how to get from a whole globe artichoke to what you find in the little jars of artichoke hearts. All the recipes seem to favor stuffing them and eating them whole.
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You cut the end off and steam or boil and eat it down to the little pointed dome of hairy things in the middle. Pull, and toss those, and you're left with the heart!

Morning Glory said:
Can you buy the whole thistle?
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That's the only way I buy them!
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Morning Glory said:
Can you buy the whole thistle?
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Yes, I’ve bought them several times in the past.

SoCalZone10 said:
I do love artichoke hearts, but I get a big jar from Costco and they were not eaten.
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They’re very versatile. I love them in salad, in pasta, dip, roasted. They have a very unique taste.

Barriehie said:
You cut the end off and steam or boil and eat it down to the little pointed dome of hairy things in the middle. Pull, and toss those, and you're left with the heart!
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Every video I’ve watched (and I’ve watched dozens) follow roughly the same process - cut the top off, break the leaves off, dig the choke out, scrape it clean, then boil it or stuff and bake it.

I want the bits that look like what come out of the jars. I’ve bought probably a dozen artichokes, and I start cutting off the tops, breaking off the leaves, and I take off more leaves, and more leaves, and then I’m left with a big pile of leaves and the fuzzy choke. I don’t know where the stuff that comes from the jars is on an actual artichoke. No one seems to get to those in any of the videos.
 
Barriehie said:
😱


You cut the end off and steam or boil and eat it down to the little pointed dome of hairy things in the middle. Pull, and toss those, and you're left with the heart!


That's the only way I buy them!View attachment 140219
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Exactly. Although the the base of the coarse leaves are traditionally eaten dipped in vinaigrette in French cuisine. You drag them over your bottom teeth. Delicious!

But many folk only know them as jarred. In the case of jarred, young artichokes are used as in much Italian cooking. So the small leaves can be eaten and the choke is not developed.
 
TastyReuben said:
Yes, I’ve bought them several times in the past.


They’re very versatile. I love them in salad, in pasta, dip, roasted. They have a very unique taste.


Every video I’ve watched (and I’ve watched dozens) follow roughly the same process - cut the top off, break the leaves off, dig the choke out, scrape it clean, then boil it or stuff and bake it.

I want the bits that look like what come out of the jars. I’ve bought probably a dozen artichokes, and I start cutting off the tops, breaking off the leaves, and I take off more leaves, and more leaves, and then I’m left with a big pile of leaves and the fuzzy choke. I don’t know where the stuff that comes from the jars is on an actual artichoke. No one seems to get to those in any of the videos.
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It's in the middle!

I'll get one and take pics.
 
Wedgwood, a David Austin rose from my garden, I love a spray of roses hanging down, it resembles a wedding bouquet naturally.
Wedgewood rose

Wedgewood rose

  • Media owner SoCalZone10
  • Date added
A spray of Wedgwood rose from my garden, a David Austin rose. Very fragrant. Originally I had 2...

Eden’s Climber, I love/loved this rose but it’s thorny and my husband and I are not getting younger. Whenever we pass by, we scratch ourselves, so it’s gone from my garden.
From this picture, I can see my garden was very lush with fruit trees in the back, some might have been removed for whatever reason.

Eden’s Climber

Eden’s Climber

  • Media owner SoCalZone10
  • Date added
A climber
 
I thinned some guavas today, it went from 8 to 6. This is a relatively young tree I just acquired last year, some guavas didn’t look like they grow much in the last few weeks, so I might as well take thrm off, put more energy back to the tree. Maybe the rest of the fruit will get bigger. Possibly, more thinning.

But i get excited to see the buds on my nectarine and peach trees, it will be spectacular with flowers. Last year I did acquire 5 more peach/nectarine trees, we shall see.
 
Morning Glory said:
But many folk only know them as jarred. In the case of jarred, young artichokes are used as in much Italian cooking. So the small leaves can be eaten and the choke is not developed.
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Maybe that’s my issue…I need to buy baby ones, but they don’t sell those here, only the ones the size of grapefruit.
 
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