Sunflowers & Artichokes

Today I cut our sunflower who's head was droopy and full of seeds!  Too cool!  When we planted the sunflower, I had not idea of how the seeds were formed...  but here they are:

 Also, in the garden, our artichoke plant is dying of heat stroke and the artichokes are small so I haven't harvested any of the fruit.  Instead we've let them bloom into these beautiful purple flowers!  Really cool! 

(Artichoke photos by Allison.)

Artichokes are perennials, so I wonder if this plant would come back when the Arizona heat lets up in the fall?  I won't find out this year because I am going to have our weed guy treat the garden which is over-run with weeds!  (see that pretty green "blanket" covering the ground?)  I have plans to plant the artichoke in a different location next year where it can grow as wide as it wants.