Spring Thistle

[cavscout]

Riding my local Mountain Bike trail over the weekend and noticed this lone thistle off the trail. It really caught my eye due to it's short, stocky proportions and the fact that it truly was the only thistle anywhere near by. This time of year they are usually all gone, so this was a nice surprise and I thought it warranted a pause to capture.

[Tobus]

Heh, despite our horrid drought conditions, I have a nice thistle growing outside my back door. It's already about 2' tall and shows no signs of slowing down. It's got three purple blooms on it. I thought about taking a picture and posting it here, but you've beaten me to the idea!

[cavscout]

Yeah, most of the thistle we see around here grow tall and skinny also, most of why this one caught my attention. The deep purple was nice as well. Usually they are brighter purple on smaller buds.

No innuendo intended but, go ahead and show us your thistle

[McElmurry]

I have a healthy dislike for Thistle, the bane of combine operators. The down gets in radiator fins and then the engine overheats. Then you have to get the service truck with the air compressor to come and blow the down out of the fins. While you’re waiting for the service truck you remove the cyclone to get to the radiator. One of the cyclone bolts is exactly the right distance from the battery so that you slip and ground the battery sending up sparks. Your first reflex is to flinch yanking your hand back and slamming your elbow into the ladder platform railing behind you. Yes, I did this more than once. So now, even 30 years later, every time I see a thistle my funny bone hurts.

[cavscout]

Funny you mention it...there was a work truck at the trail head that had a sign on it that said "Joe's Combine Repair and Thistle Seeding". I didn't think much of it until now

[Ancienne Alliance]

I am hoping to see my ferns and thistles coming out soon.

This is a picture of some of them last year... (Oh I'm afraid you will have to look behind the lassie ! )






Best,

Robert

[Tobus]

Yeah, most of the thistle we see around here grow tall and skinny also, most of why this one caught my attention. The deep purple was nice as well. Usually they are brighter purple on smaller buds.

No innuendo intended but, go ahead and show us your thistle

Got home yesterday and went to take a picture ofit, but my wife dug it up!

There will be more, I'm sure...

[cessna152towser]

Great pics. It will be a couple of months yet before the thistles are in flower again here in Scotland.

[T-Bone]

If you are inclined to wild edibles, thistle stalk is pretty good. Similar to celery but sweeter.

[Chas]

If you are inclined to wild edibles, thistle stalk is pretty good. Similar to celery but sweeter.

Really? I am amazed. Do you need to cook it or eat it raw? Strip the outer skin or eat as is?

Regards

Chas