Bridges Gardening: A is for artichoke

Most people know artichokes (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) only as an exotic vegetable that is served as an appetizer: the fleshy bracts are removed one by one, the thick end dipped in warm garlic butter and then the inside fleshy part is scraped off the outer tough skin with one’s teeth. Or, you can usually find young quartered or whole artichoke hearts preserved in water or oil in the canned vegetable aisle: great in salads or on pizza.
Native to North Africa and the Medite