I took a thistle for today and if this is what happens to them I don't think I want to see it. They were so vibrant and full of life and this is what becomes of it but I suppose it is the whole 'circle of life' thing. Nice photo with fantastic detail.
@brett101 We're having a drought here so things that don't get watered by the hose go by fast. This one is turning to white thistledown which you can see at the top which means it was around long enough to get fertilized and set seed. Considering it takes two seasons to get to this point, this plant is a success. That's a good thing. Well, it is, if you like thistles in your lawn. I do.
@seacreature some are biennial, some are annual and some are perennial. I think this one is biennial. They spend the first year as flat rosettes. We had lots in our lawn when I was a kid. I think I was well into adulthood before I realized that thistle rosettes were not what people meant when they talked about crab grass. :)
