Monday, August 26, 2013

Macro Monday - Bull Thistle


Sue and I drove up to the Tallgrass Preserve on Saturday to admire the view.  By this time of year the prairie is usually dry and brown but this year is lush and green.  The buffalo were grazing up to their bellies and looked fat and happy.  Bull Thistle is often found growing next to the road.  It blooms purple then dries to a brownish gray.  This year the seed pods themselves are purple.  I don't recall seeing this much color before.  I read that the stalks and root of the plant are edible and provide food for rabbits and deer.  Those critters have tougher mouth parts than I do.

more Macro Monday

7 comments:

Jama said... [Reply to comment]

they are pretty.

Leedslass said... [Reply to comment]

Those thistles are beautiful and it looks as though the foreground buffalo hasn't eaten enough of them - he's showing his ribs.

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

Beautiful thistles. The colour is very pretty.

Hannah said... [Reply to comment]

The Bison look very contented. I've been wanting to grow Eryngium but haven't succeeded yet.

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

wow! great shots of the thistle and love the buffalo!
carol, ^_^

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Lovely shots from the prairie.

Laura said... [Reply to comment]

I've never seen these thistles before... beautiful!