Texas thistle flower head
Click for greater detail.
And here’s the kind of flower head that the bud of a Texas thistle, Cirsium texanum, opens out into. The date this time was April 19, and during the 15 or so minutes it took for the annual state inspection of my car to be carried out, I wandered over to the undeveloped lot next to the auto repair shop and photographed some of the thistles I’d noticed growing there. All I needed in order for my car to pass inspection was a new windshield wiper, and all you need to do to pass through my blog today is glance at this colorful flower head and, I hope, give your seal of approval.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
This flower is beautiful!! I love to photograph it as well, but last year coming around an area were I live I found the same flower in RED! I was like never seen it in red, it looks amazing. Great image!
laviebohemeart
May 8, 2012 at 11:03 AM
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a red one of these, though I’ve occasionally seen one where the normal color shades toward pink. It’s good that you have access to these: enjoy them while you can.
Steve Schwartzman
May 8, 2012 at 2:17 PM
You have passed inspection with flying colors!!!
dhphotosite
May 8, 2012 at 9:40 PM
Thanks, David. Now I know who to go to when the next inspection comes due.
Steve Schwartzman
May 8, 2012 at 9:43 PM
I like it! Thistle blossoms are pretty and they also remind me of the great trout fishing that takes place at the time when they bloom. Brings back many good memories!
montucky
May 8, 2012 at 11:45 PM
Now that’s a connection I never would have made, having lots of close experience with the one but none at all with the other. I’m happy to have reminded you of both.
Steve Schwartzman
May 9, 2012 at 7:23 AM
J’adore. Un repère pour les insectes 🙂
lancoliebleue
May 9, 2012 at 3:40 AM
Justement, et comme nous verrons la prochaine fois.
Steve Schwartzman
May 9, 2012 at 7:24 AM
These generally are thick along some of the backroads in Kerr and Medina counties. Goats are goats, of course, but it always was funny to see these beautiful flowers thick along the road side of the fences, and completely gone on the goat side. They look like they could be goat-dessert!
shoreacres
May 9, 2012 at 8:26 AM
Since you bring up the topic of dessert, I’ve heard native plant people refer to Engelmann daisies as ice cream for cattle. Give me places where neither the mowers nor the livestock can get at our native plants.
Steve Schwartzman
May 9, 2012 at 9:34 AM
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