Flowers for a queen

In the late 18th century a Frenchman called Parmentier wanted to introduce potatoes into the french diet as an alternative to wheat and bread which were the staple foods but he met much opposition.  So he thought that if he introduced Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to delicious dishes of potatoes they would become fashionable and the rest of society would follow.   He gave the couple some potato flowers when they were walking in the gardens of Versailles. The Queen put some of the little flowers in her hair and Louis put one in his buttonhole with the nobles and ladies in their retinue doing the same.
One story tells how the king gave Parmentier some acreage for the growing of potatoes. Walls were put up and a guard established to protect the garden. The air of mystery aroused people’s curiosity, which was doubled when guards accepted bribes to allow people to dig up potatoes. All of this staging encouraged people to look at the humble tuber from a new perspective.  All of these efforts received their reward and the potato was enshrined for good in French cuisine in 1785. In that year, famine struck northern France, but the poor were able to survive, thanks to the lowly potato. The death of many by starvation had been avoided.
 
They really are very attractive flowers although these are past their best.  Unfortunately the wind was blowing so hard while I was trying to take photos of these potatoes growing in a tub in the garden.    In local fields there are also white and cream coloured flowers and the extra shows a better photo taken on Tuesday.