What's this spiky fella?

looks a bit like either red star thistle - Centaurea calcitrapa or milk thistle- Silybum marianum

fab names silybum hehe

thats my thoughts anyways

x x x

very prretty ive always liked thistles my mum has a fairy poem book and faourite picture was the thistle fairy

it is a british native but cant remember its name. it is common on rough pasture. if you like it it isnt a weed.

Hmmmmm, I might dig it up in the autumn then, 'cause I do like it. I'll see what the flowers are like. :o)

they are a mid sized purple thistle. i'll look it up in my wildflower books in my lunch hour tomorrow.
the goldfinches love the seeds. wind dispersed so will sow all over. so problem problem.

Thanks, hun.

it is fantastic, times like this I am in completewonder with how nature grows

if that makes sense

x x x

sure does and still keeps doing it to me/for me.

try Crisium vulgare, spike thistle.
google its image and see if its a match llew.

ive found similar but Cirsium vulgare- spear thistle!! but my book is printed in 1974 so probably out of date

hehehe

x x x

as it is a wild flower the book wont be out of date. have you noticed the spider in the top corner of the spear?

red one... its a bloomin good picture Llew,
x x x

Thanks, girls. I think that might be it. I googled for pics and some don't look anything like it, (they didn't seem as bushy) but some are identical. :o) I'll keep checking for the flowers.
As it's a biennial, I may not bother doing anything with it but I thought one might look good right at the back of the bed.

Lovely little spider isn't he? I thought I'd let him have his 5 mins of fame, lol.