This is beautiful. The purple is so vivid and coordinates so well with the bluish - green of the the base of the flower. Looks like a postcard from the past and it should have a little plaid ribbon draped across one corner.
Great shot Issi! I love thistles! When my (English) husband and I got married I had thistles (well, eryngium) and roses in my bouquet and we had beautiful sugarwork thistle and rose on our cake! Enjoy being home!