Close-up of thistle flower. Shorewood, WI, September 2006.-------IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT DOWNLOADING THIS IMAGE instead of purchasing a print of it, I ask that you reconsider. I put a lot of time and effort into creating this image, so please don't deprive me of the rewards of that effort. Some people think anything they find on the Internet is free for the taking, like clip art. Not so; my photos are my property and are protected by copyright. If you download this image to avoid paying for it, it's as if you held me up and stole my wallet. If the honor system doesn't work here, I'll be forced to remove all my photos, and then nobody gets to see them. C'mon people, my prints are reasonably priced.