The thistles have lost their flowers and just remain a former spiky carcass! Looks very much like a toilet brush to me, but far prettier!
These particular ones I grew from seed 3 years ago. They are bi-annuals and therefore flower in their 2nd year. They self-seed so have had a lovely show of them again this year without having to make an effort. That's the sort of gardening I like! They grow up to about 2 metres high so are quite spectacular! The point of view here is from below with trees in the background.
@friend2303@craftymeg@khirsch@virtualbrownie@taffy@janine3@therubysusan Thank you all for your comments. therubysusan no tripod for this photo and there was a bit of a breeze so had to be quick! I would love to get a macro lens with image stabilisation as the tripod just gets in the way sometimes when you have to get so close to the subject and its in the middle of the flower bed!
You have a steady hand! I shoot anyway, because at least I get a good look at things I try to photograph, but I get blur. The sad thing is, I have a tripod but I never carry it - like you day, it's too heavy!
@therubysusan You don't know how many photos I take of the same thing in an attempt to get one in focus! Can be hundreds! In fact I am getting really fed up because the tripod is not always very user friendly as the insects I try to photograph are not very patient posers! I am seriously thinking about buying a macro lens with image stabilisation and hope that helps.....So keep trying!
@shepherdmanswife We're between a rock and a hard place - you have to get in so close with a macro lens, the "bugs" usually won't pose. At least you don't have to worry about Teasel running away, just the breezes!
Ian