Thistles

Did I mention that I love thistles? They had these lovely thistles at the ocean.


I was holding it still in the wind so I could actually capture the flower without blur. It was very windy!


I managed to capture this insect. I'm still trying to identify it. I have another picture with one in it on a rhody bloom.


A closer look.



A pair.


A little blurry, but I like it.



And here are the ones in my yard.

Not yet ready to flower.




Just starting to flower.


Fully flowered.