Route 66 and Blue Corn

historic Route 66

We recently returned from our vacation in Northern Arizona.

It was a great week and as always, we spent some time along the historic Route 66.

historic Route 66

Along the main road, I saw half-barrel planters with corn planted in them.

blue corn

As I looked more closely at the corn, I discovered that it was blue corn that was growing.

blue corn

Blue corn, or ‘Hopi’ corn has been grown in the Southwest for over 500 years.

It is used for making blue cornmeal, blue tortillas and chips.

I was also surprised to find that it also has a higher percentage of protein and iron then the more traditional yellow sweet corn.

I think that blue corn is rather pretty, don’t you?

To learn more about blue corn, check out this link.

I love the fun and interesting sights along the iconic Route 66.  You can view some of the fun and quirky things we saw along Route 66 here.

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
5 replies
  1. virginia robertson
    virginia robertson says:

    Being that I recently visited route 66, I was amazed at much nostalgia stirred in me… I was very pleasantly surprised… I should have done a little more plant related info… But well… Blue corn is amazing… (amaizing) get it… I know corny… I know I crack myself up… Ok.. enough of that… I want to read up on blue corn now… Thanks for idea…. Happy gardening…

  2. Indie
    Indie says:

    How fun! I find it interesting that they are planting corn in containers as well. I haven't had much luck with corn due to all our clay in the soil – maybe I should try that!

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