okay, it appears thistle has sneaked its way onto my list of favorite STILL blog subjects.  other than the nuisance of trying to handle the dagger-sharp stems and occasionally trying to dig the prickles out of my foot, i find it otherwise irresistible: in fact, i am temporarily a dangerous highway driver, peering out the passenger window at whole embankments painted lavender by thistle season. this variety, with its diminutive flowerhead, is abundant right now in the wetland areas beside our dock just before the line where the cattails start to dominate.

creeping thistle (or canada thistle)

turtle lake, saint paul, minnesota