bear's breeches, Acanthus mollis

I've resisted posting this one for a long time, but it popped for today, so it is what it is. Now there's an alien that will be first in the photo album forever. Nothing else comes before Acanthus. Clearly, not everyone has felt badly about bear's breeches. Those curly designs at the top of ancient Greek Corinthian-style columns? Inspired by the leaves of this plant, which is native to the Mediterranean region. These have now spread to the wild in CA. Beal gardens, Michigan State University, 6/24/12.