I don't suppose you guys know the origin of this song eh? It comes from the late Anglo-Saxon period (early 11th Century) when it (London) was attacked by the vikings (Viking, a word in itself which means pirate). No, don't think Horned helmets, that's bollocks (not a swear word) like "Chainmail" which is also bollocks! Err, sorry got carried away there Mike - cool photo, as usually folks capture tha majesty of healthy plants, not the weathered nature you have here. please tell me it's supposed to be unhealthy ?

awesome :-)

Cool. I never saw the plant myself...

I have always wondered and that has now been answered thanks so much for sharing this wonderful pic.

Ive got a lonesome one in my garden but it is only the first year. Great shot!!

not into them at all. don't like the taste myself. cool shot.

A thistle is a thistle...and tasty with melted butter! Great capture!

Well I have never seen one before so thank you for showing me :) Cathy xoxoxo

Makes you wonder if someone by the name of "Arty" choked on one at some point and time and is how it's name came about...Just a wild guess with absolute no proof..lol... I remember the 1st time I saw one as a kid and was watching Little Rascals where Buckwheat and Stimey had one and couldn't figure it out after they peeled it down to nothing...lol...

never seen them growing before, I sang the song, hope everyone else did :o)

Oh dear, they do seem to need stakes and water. :-) I have grown a couple plants each year up until this year. I always battle the bugs for dominance of them and since last year provided a very costly war on caterpillars and grasshoppers, I decided to pocket my money this year and use it at the grocery store to buy some without holes in them. :-)

Yum! They look rather alien don't they? Watch out, I think they are creeping for your yard. If we don't see you this week we'll know what happened. :)

great photo my friend

I need butter!.....more butter!!!!!!!LOL

we need Hollandaise sauce for the strange alien plant!!! :o))

Excellent capture!!!

So Lovely,

I have never seen them before in a garden. Very cool, Mike!

Wonderful capture and motif, Mike. And artichoke plant is looking very strange i think, almost sick or somn :) But it really taste great.

That's what happens when they have a serious head. But the artichokes always taste good! Very nice shot!

LOL! Cute little diddi you came up with Mike. Thanks for showing us what the artichoke plant looks like. My wife, Holly, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES artichokes but cannot eat them often because of her blood illness. They have a LOT of vitamin K in them. I believe the artichoke is in the thistle family as I recall.

Very nice image, Mike !!! Beautiful capture !

I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE GOOD PLACE TO PLANT THEM. ARE THEY GOOD TO EAT AT LEAST?

marvelous image

London Bridge is in Arizona.when I walked across it ,I am glad it did not fall. I can not say I have ever seen any growing.very interesting

I wonder about many things....... Hadn't wondered about artichokes lately, though! Looks like these are about ready to pluck - now where's my butter.... A fun capture, Mike!

Wonderful capture of these unique plants. They do look dry and ready for a drink. Aw you and Jim are on the same page.. Count down till Christmas. Really the time will pass by from now till then very quickly.

Either they need a bit more TLC or they are ready for plucking ! Sad, but interesting low POV and colour contrasts ! ~Cheers~

I don't like artichokes mother. I wish I did but I don't. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS5rAXkcwOQ

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!