The Cotton or Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium): Orderly spikes wrapped up in cotton wool
High Pass Edge Filtered
It is all too easy to end up shedding blood when handling this plant!
But it is worth it for this glory held high in the sky …
Beware, it is a giant (~3m with a bit of a tendency to catch the wind and tilt inconveniently)
Based in Ickleford, Hertfordshire, UK.
My own little allotment of land (in whatever form it takes, whatever I do with it, or dream of doing) serves as a springboard for creativity and happiness.
Allotment Life At Plot 33
Gardens, Garden Visiting and the National Garden Scheme
Birds, Animals, the Occasional Dash of Whimsy and lots of Pictures.
Gardens, Nature, Pictures, ... discover, learn and share
"The love of gardening is a seed once sown never dies" - Gertrude Jekyll
A Writer's On-Going Search for Just the Right Words
The sensory pleasures and earthy delights of gardening.
THE JOY OF GARDENING IN THE SHADOWS
Jane Merrick's allotment blog
A garden for birds, bees, bats, flowers, fruit and beauty!
blog of a professional gardener, about his work, tools, gardens visited and thoughts?/advice
A Blog About Gardening Plus A Little More
Thoughts about life, living, and gardening....
At home with plants and nature in gardens and beyond
STOPS ALONG THE WAY
The wildlife of a small market town...
no dig gardening, seasonal cooking, permaculture, preserving, foraging, storing, crafting, home life
gardens plants ideas
Adventures of a Casual Gardener & Photographer
Photographing the beauty and wonder of Staffordshire wildlife and more
We are working to conserve the nations garden plants for people to use and enjoy today and tomorrow
My plant obsession
gardening in the North Carolina piedmont
Exploring the countryside and lanes of Dorset
Flora and fauna in a North Carolina garden.
the joy of creativity
Beautiful
Thanks
It’s pretty and I bet the bees and birds love it, but I don’t think I’ll be inviting it into my garden. 😉
Lol. Me neither! (I grow them at Wimpole)
I just read the name of this recently. I’d never seen one — the cottony “stuff” is fascinating.
Yes, it looks suspiciously regular for a chaotic jumble I think
Very interesting thistle for sure. I have a couple of different species on the farm and always like their flowers. One of them, I can’t remember the name at the moment, with silvery blue leaves is really neat. But of course here on the farm thistles can become a big problem. No matter if I get rid of all of them one year, they are back in full force the next.
They definitely have global domination tendencies and not much willing to brave pain to limit them. When you see the seeds floating away in clouds you know you are in for more trouble. Do you use a flailer?
So lovely
Thanks