English: Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) - flower. The artichoke > 935419 is a member of the thistle group of the sunflower family; its origins date back to the time of the Greek philosopher and naturalist, Theophrastus (371-287 B.C.), who reported of them being grown in Italy and Sicily. Being one of the oldest foods known to humans, they were first cultivated at Naples around the middle of the 15th century and gradually spread to other sections of Europe. In the 16th century, the artichoke was believed to be an aphrodisiac and eating it was reserved only for men. In 1949, the actress Marilyn Monroe was the first official California Artichoke Queen. Artichokes are large perennial plants which can spread to cover an area up to about 2 metres in diameter. The plant's flower bud is edible as a vegetable. If allowed to flower, the blossoms can measure up to 20 centimetres in diameter. Salle Hall > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/935141 was built in 1761 for Edward Hase; alterations were made in 1862, and east and west service blocks were added in 1910 for Sir Woolmer White. The east wing contains an Orangery > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/935153. (N. Pevsner & B. Wilson, The Buildings of England, Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East, 2002). Presently, Salle Hall and gardens are part of the Salle Park Estate, owned by Sir John White. Salle Park gardens consist of two sections, one of which being a Georgian style pleasure garden with formal lawns and topiary, rose gardens, specimen trees and shrubs > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/935157 - https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/935166 . The walled kitchen garden was created in the 1780s and retains many of the original features.