Architectural Artichoke

Having let the heads go too far in the Summer I left them on the plant to mature into their beautiful thistle-like flowers, which they did. But since then they have died back and now remain as this amazing, monochrome silhouette.

The ash grey and browns are positively dowdy but their tall uprights add a new architecture to my Herb bed. I’ve been quick to hack them down in the past and never let them get this far. But I’m glad I did leave them this year and this is where they’ll stay until the frost hacks them down for me.