by Barbara Radisavljevic
Member since:
October 7, 2009

Photo by Barbara Radisavljevic

February 16, 2013 02:49 AM UTC (Updated: March 25, 2013 02:00 AM UTC)
weeds,bull thistle,bullthistle,gardening,rocks
Beware the insidious bull thistle. Its lovely flowers go to seed and its seeds go everywhere in your garden. These are the children of a huge mama plant that was growing inside this wire cage with my grape vine. It was almost impossible to remove. As you can see to the left one of the children is half in and half out of the cage. The large one in front is growing out from under a rock. These are just a couple of the remaining plants from the dozens already pulled from this one mama plant. If you see one of these thistles, pull it while it's this size, or you may have to pull dozens of its children later on.

Comments: 22

Karen E. Feb 16, 2013, 3:29am UTC
Great aDVICE!!!
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 3:55am UTC
I learned it the hard way. :)
Karen E. Feb 16, 2013, 3:59am UTC
That is how REAL lessons roll...
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:44pm UTC
You've got that right, Karen.
♥ Christine aka stine1 ♥ Feb 16, 2013, 5:32am UTC
Ouch...
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:45pm UTC
Ouch is what happens if you don't wear gloves when you pull them.
Susan H. Feb 16, 2013, 7:57am UTC
definitly
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:45pm UTC
Don't we wish our flowers would reseed as well?
connie h. Feb 16, 2013, 8:55am UTC
nice
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:46pm UTC
Thanks, Connie.
Rayda Renshaw Feb 16, 2013, 9:04am UTC
They are nasty and will hitch-hike all over the place. These babies are not indigenous to Alaska but I actually saw one growing up there! It had been brought in on someone's pantsleg or shoe. They will grow literally anywhere!
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:47pm UTC
Very true. They are similar in looks to the California thistle and the Canadian thistle, so I hope I have identified it properly.
Kat W. Feb 16, 2013, 11:58am UTC
If you cut the spent blooms of the plant it will prevent this problem. :-)
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:48pm UTC
That's true, and I've done that. But you really have to be on top of it to catch the next bloom. It's easier to get them when they are young.
Larry H. Feb 16, 2013, 1:05pm UTC
I would be the one getting all stuck up with pickers
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:49pm UTC
Not if you wear good gloves and get them out when young.
Marian L Feb 16, 2013, 1:45pm UTC
Great advice. I will tell my husband. He is the gardener.
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:51pm UTC
Lucky you. My husband has hired someone this year to get all the bad weeds out.
Barbara Radisavljevic Feb 16, 2013, 1:51pm UTC
The ones I haven't already pulled, that is.
Truth Always Feb 16, 2013, 1:52pm UTC
Yes, they are nasty and we have some... I learned the hard way to wear gloves when dealing with the pests...
Cynthia C. Feb 21, 2013, 7:45am UTC
Good advice! Nice shot:)

Thank you for sharing with us at Flowers, Nature, Animal and Gardening Photos:)
Renita P. Mar 24, 2013, 10:00pm UTC
Thanks for posting to Photo Street! I’ll be trying to view your photo with the February 2013 archives daily until they are cleared. It would be great if you could view photos featured on my “Fast Five” posts located here, or the other featured photos here to help..

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