There are all sorts of dandelions in VA. And there are thistles (Canada or bull thistle being a particularly noxious weed) all over New England.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thistle in New England

Dandelions bloom in the late spring and are pretty much low growing invisible rosettes of leaves afterwards. If you had looked more closely, you may have seen the rosettes under the thistles.

Much as you do not like dandelions, they are relatively benign weeds -- only flower once, don't have invasive roots, stay low and green so a lawn looks okay and they don't choke out everything else. And the leaves are edible in the spring

Thistles, on the other hand, are true thugs. They have sharp spines to cut you when walking through them or trying to pull them, grow tall, have VERY invasive roots and will take over any patch of ground, crowding out the other stuff. Pulling them is not effective as any tiny bit of root left behind rapidly grows into a new plant.

Many states have thistles on their noxious weed list, few list dandelion.

Thanks Mary & Judy! I guess it's an aesthetic thing -- when I see a dandelion I think UGLY -- EVIL! The thistle I saw in Virginia wasn't the low-growing Canada variety. It was the tall thistle with the huge flower heads that you associate with Scotland. I just think their beautiful, but then again I don't have to pull them from my garden. Of course, if they grew in my garden I'd probably leave them there. I guess weeds are a matter of taste. I have Johhny-Jump-Ups that grow in between my roses and peonies. They're cute, but I find them annoying (my sister won't let me weed-wack them).

So, people in Virginia wouldn't mind if I stopped and picked some of the thistles next year?

Yikes! Why you would ever WANT thistle in your garden escapes me (come get mine!). Thistle is choking out my beautiful cottage garden. I've rounded up in "open" areas of my garden, but I can't figure out how to get rid of the thistle that's growing up in the middle of my lillies, peonies, shasta daisies, etc. without killing them off as well.

Ah me....

It is illegal everywhere is remove plants from land you do not own, including the roadside.

Canada thistle is not short, it grows to 3-5 ft. However, if you want to pick thistles for a bouquet, I doubt anyone would stop you. You could collect the seeds and plant them, but be prepared for a future lifetime of pulling thistles from your garden or a garden that is 100% thistle.

Here is a link that might be useful: Canada Thistle