Scotch Thistle
Onopordum Acanthium
This is a thistle. Gardeners and farmers hate them.
They are very annyoing and hard to keep under control.
Most gardeners and certainly the farmers around my garden, would get mad if they saw this;
Every season, I let at least one thistle grow and mature.
European goldfinch
In German we call it a 'thistle finch' (Distelfink).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_goldfinch
This bird is specialized in thistles.
And as you can see in the picture above, some bird - I did not see which - cracked those pods.
I have no own photo of such a finch.
I rarely see one. They are not very common anymore.
Since everybody is fighting and cutting and killing thistles, I think these birds are having a hard time.
Despite their name, I am certain they rely on other food sources, mostly.
Eyesore
Pretty much everyone, who visits my garden, asks me to cut this plant.
It certainly isn't nice to look at. Even if that picture had come out better, it looks... bad...
Its seeds will spread everywhere and I have thistles pop up all over the place, all the time.
It causes me extra work. I sometimes step on them and that hurts.
I often hurt my skin with these prickly bast*rds.
Value
When I see the cracked pods, I am happy.
It's absolutely worth the annoyance.
I am providing a food source for wildlife. A source that I can not see anywhere around anymore.
If I can feed one single bird on their journey, I am content.
Sure, it's nice to grow food and provide some nutrients for myself, family and friends.
But I get almost more joy out of providing wildlife with a refuge or a food source.
...and that is also a service to the community.
I wish I had a nice photo of a goldfinch to share. One day...
Conclusion
Weeds are a hassle.
It's hard to stay on top of it and they compete with your crops.
Some of the things we consider weeds, are of high value for the ecosystem around it.
Often, they are pioneers and improve disturbed soil, cover it and prevent erosion.
They have a purpose.
I would certainly recommend you weeded your garden.
But sometimes it's good to just let some of it be.
Sometimes it can be harder to not touch a thing, instead of just chopping it all down.
It's all about balance.
Being Scottish I love thistles ....
Just look ...
Enough said, that is why people should leave thistles alone
When I googled for that name, I already found it intriguing that is a 'scottish thistle'.
Now I got one more clue, why that would be the case; So thistles are a scottish thing, then? Never knew...
However, in German the one in my pictures is a 'common donkey thistle'. 🤣
I love the Scottish - please don't get me wrong - just found it worth/funny mentioning.
Yes it is our national flower.
But did you know the donkey thistle is an edible plant from Cyprus!
I did not know, at all.
The Welsh have thier leek and you have the thistle, I guess 🙂
ah the Welsh are a funny lot, they have the leek and the daffodil. I think it is the daffy that is their national flower. I am sure their leek is our haggis!
I know that you can prepare the (young) pods like artichokes.
...and probably the root is good for something, too...
Ah yes when young, mind you I have never eaten any,
Hey, I loved this story, especially the plant that doesn't look good. I'm the same way, I always leave some of the wildest, what is native to here, nature appreciates it and I support the idea of spreading at least a little of what grows as bad grass, plus it gives variety to the whole large garden. I congratulate you for this decision!
Thanks for checking out my blog!
Thanks!
I went and checked out your blog, and it looks like you are associated with @curangel.
Are you friends with the Argentinian curation gang?
Thanks for checking :)
I wouldn't call it an associate, but I have given a part of my power in delegation, I trust the work of the @curangel team and I'm not always available to make my own votes.
On the other hand, the Argentina community, yes, I am part of it, although I don't know exactly how they are managing the curation system, and I hope to join that trail soon!
I absolutely don't.
If you ever change your mind about that, let me know.
Oh, and why is that? I am really learning on my own on this path and many times I just can't find information about it to inform myself about everything. Change your mind about supporting the Argentinean team? I live here, and they are the closest contact to Hive that I have, but I'm interested in learning more and forming my own opinions and ways of working...
by the way, I surely visited your blog in the past, great job with those cannabis plants! a plan that I hope to be able to carry out again in the next few months, to have my crop in the garden again.
I want this place to be decentralized.
Not in the hands of a few.
Some Argentinians have formed a club, are employed as 'curators' and vote each other in a circle. I just want to make sure I don't support them or any of their associates.
Thanks!
You also commented before, and I remember it.
I'll follow back - I like your content.
Sorry for being weird - in case you don't know what's going on, I apologize.
I'm with you on this - 'weeds' a social construct - every plot should have something for nature....
Also I actually quite like thistles I don't think they are ugly at all!
Most of the things that are considered 'weeds' today, were actually cultivated a while ago. Stingy nettle, French cabbage, goutweed...
That is why they pop up in every garden, because the were selected for it and are adapted to humans. But that's for another post...
Stinging Nettles, very nutricious!
Also great for making ropes :)
When I walk through a meadow where there are ripe thistles, and I'm wearing sneakers with laces... Surprisingly, removing the thistle from the laces doesn't bother me, it's like a meditation 😀
I think we are talking about different things.
I think you mean burdock, while I mean thistle.
Look kind of similar, and are probably related, but thistles actually hurt.
Depending on the location I leave the weeds be. When it messes the balance of the eye, I try to fix it (which is a total b*tch but good for the brain actually), but I also have a field of weeds next to the garden and let that one run for the ecosystem. You can see the bees flying back and forth from that field to the crops and that is a good thing.
Lately here the Dutch policy in the greens has also been to let it slide more, to get back more bees and other flie-ers. I hope it helps, might be a little late to the party.
Keep the Distel. It has character
All these alarmists in the media get too much recognition.
Sure, the environment is worth protecting.
But, of course it's not too late at all.
All these insects and plants are incredibly resilient and given a chance, they would repopulate the place in no time.
This - always
Ich finde es klasse, dass Du die Disteln drin lässt für die Vögel und die kleine Wildwiese für die Bienen und andere Bewohner. Wenn man die ganze Pflanze sieht ist sie vielleicht etwas unansehnlich aber die Blüten und später die Kapseln sind schön und sehr fotogen. Ich habe einige Fotos.
Weeds are hassle indeed but as I get older, I rely on weeds for herbal medicine as I get relapse often. Glad to hear you helping out wildlife
Ich finde Disteln wunderschön!
How good of you to grow food for wildlife, I like it, and it is truly a service to the community, continue to have a good time 🥰🙏