Cardoon Begins Blooming - July 2024

Over the past few days, our Cardoon (planted IB2DWs in full sun) has begun to bloom.  I posted a pre-bloom photo last week and talked about how I had to fend of aphids and bag worm to get to this point.  The first purple, pointed bloom emerged from the largest artichoke-like bud in the center of the plant.  It started small and soft-to-the-touch.  No smell at all (at least that I could detect).  

Below is the first morning of the bloom.  

Below is a wider-view of all the buds that will (hopefully) follow the first one:

And, below is an even wider-view of the plant - showing how it is planted close to our driveway.

The next morning, the initial bloom opened-up wider.  Below are a couple photos showing the second day of the Cardoon flower bloom: