Thistle Birthday Card

Thistles make me think of Scotland and Eeyore the donkey in the same breath (it's the floral emblem of Scotland and Eeyore loves to eat prickly things). This photo shows a close-up of a single thistle head, sea green and spiky, crowned by lilac coloured thistle down. The purple top and green bottom form almost an hourglass shape against three blurred green stems and grey of the background. At the right of the image are the words, "It's Just Your Birthday" in white lettering. The Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare, has been introduced into North America from Europe and Asia. Even though it's considered a noxious weed in my state, I still think it's beautiful--as long as I don't have to walk through a field of it! I took this photo at Snoqualmie Falls, WA. Copyright Gail Storrs 2010