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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Macro Monday - Artichokes


Hi All - here's my first entry for Macro Monday.  Shooting macro has been one of the photography skills that I've been interested in developing and so far I get the best results by accident!  Would you recognize this strangely beautiful vegetable without the post title? For sure it's not grown commonly in my part of the southern U.S.

And here's the artichoke flower after it's past the harvest stage.  Looks like an exotic sea creature, doesn't it?

And finally, here's a whole bed of artichokes in various stages of growth.

 

(Photos taken August 2011 at Sofiero, royal gardens in southern Sweden.)

For more closeups from all over, or to enter your own macros, be sure to check out Lisa's Chaos here every Monday.
 


26 comments:

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

YUM! I love artichokes. I planted a couple one year but did not get any. My son planted some last year and harvested a couple. Same garden area. He bought our previous home. Better luck the 2nd time I guess. lol! Great macro!
Visiting from Macro Monday.
Hugs,
Jann

Betsy Banks Adams said...

NO---have never seen artichokes --except in the grocery stores and markets! The bloom is interesting... Very nice!!!!! Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from bloggers.
Hugs,
Betsy

Jan n Jer said...

Nice Macro Faye...you are learning alot!!!

TexWisGirl said...

i don't believe i've ever seen an artichoke in growth.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Your pictures are so very lovely!! Thank you!!! Cathy

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Great Macro. I've never seen an artichoke in growth. It's pretty.

Brian King said...

I had no idea artichokes were that beautiful and I certainly wouldn't have known what it was. Great photos!

Muhammad khabbab said...

I did not know antichokes are so pretty. Macros very well taken.

Unknown said...

Nice shots. The flower is quite beautiful.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I'd never have thought an artichoke could be beautiful!

Linda said...

These are wonderful! I would not have known what it was without the title...love the flower too!

Linda said...

Beautiful shot and wonderful subject here!
Have a great day! :)

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Artichokes ~ so colorful and photogenic ~ nature brings such gifts to those who see ~ Excellent photography ~ (A Creative Harbor)

Judy said...

The college grew artichokes a few years ago, and I spent a long time capturing the blossoms!! The insects loved them! It was hard to find a blossom without a visitor!

George said...

These are wonderful macro shots -- I especially like the flowering artichoke. I have to admit that most of my good macro shots are accidental as well.

ExploreColorado said...

Magnificent in both floral and non floral forms.

EG CameraGirl said...

AJ! So an artichoke flower looks a lot like a thistle!

Living Life said...

Excellent macros of the Artichokes. I must say I have never seen one outside the grocery store Faye! And I most certainly didn't know they produce a flower! So beautiful!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

That's amazing! Artichokes are one vegetable I'm not very familiar with. The second photo looks more like a Scotch Thistle than a vegetable. Always nice to learn something new.

Katrin Klink said...

I love your 'exotic sea creature'. This is what I call the 'macro world' - everything looks completely new from the macro perpective!

DawnTreader said...

Not sure I've ever seen the flower. I haven't eaten artichokes more than once or twice in my life either, I think. They make lovely macro photos though :)

Leovi said...

Beautiful pictures, I really like how you captured these beautiful flowers of artichokes. Greetings.

Kim, USA said...

Hi Faye your photos are awesome! The artichoke looks ready to poke anybody ^_^ Thanks for the visit I do appreciate it.


Kim, USA

Citygirl said...

Artichokes are that pretty? I had no idea...

Kranky Granny said...

Amazing! I found this very interesting. I have never seen artichokes growing before. They are certainly photogenic.

JOY @ http://joysjotsshots.blogspot.com/ said...

Glad you came to visit my blog fellow Kentuckian and teacher. Your artichoke post grabbed my attention because I've never seen the plant and had no idea they were so beautiful. EnJOYing your pictures on your blog. I plan to check in on regular basis.