“Asters, Groundsels, and especially Thistles, afford most familiar examples of a hairy or downy pappus; those of thistles, &c. in autumn sailing about in every breeze.” --Asa Gray, “How Plants Grow”, ...

You don't need to be an avid bird watcher to enjoy seeing an American goldfinch in your backyard. The brilliant yellow birds are a delight to observe with their bouncy flying habits and joyful songs ...

Thistles are a marvelous group of plants. Botanists place them all as members of the sunflower (or aster) family, which is a truly gargantuan group with over 20,000 species. The thistles are always ...

I tugged hard on the huge musk thistle with gloved hands, but it wouldn’t budge. I stood and removed the foot-long blade I save for just such occasions and gave the stem a whack near ground level. The ...

Thistles are a marvelous group of plants. Botanists place them all as members of the sunflower (or aster) family, which is a truly gargantuan group with over 20,000 species. The thistles are always ...

Thistles have reputations as especially prickly plants, and species found in Northcentral Texas and Southwestern Oklahoma are not exceptions. Some cultures and traditions have low regard for thistles.

Two black swallowtail butterflies, Papilio polyxenes, drink nectar from Field Thistle at Heritage Park in Champaign. Griesbaum Griesbaum Two black swallowtail butterflies, Papilio polyxenes, drink ...

“Asters, Groundsels, and especially Thistles, afford most familiar examples of a hairy or downy pappus; those of thistles, &c. in autumn sailing about in every breeze.” — Asa Gray, “How Plants Grow,” ...