The Musk Thistle Carduus nutans I've been watching since May is now blooming. The plant is more than 5 feet tall and branched out regally to stand above the other flowers near it.
Several blooms, each opening in their own time, reveal deep magenta color at first. (See 6/7/2020 and 6/17/2020.) Then, as the flower head ripens, it seems pale lavender. The plant flowers over a seven- to nine-week period, and begins to disseminate seed about two weeks after it first blooms.
Note: This is a non-native invasive plant that can compete with native wildflowers, so we will try to control the seeds.
