Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Critter Magnet

The Milk Thistle, as many of you know is a critter magnet. Birds, bees and butterflies always seem to migrate to this plant. Beside its sweet nectar, each flower head produces about 190 seeds, with an average of 6,350 seeds per plant. Considered a real menace and troublesome weed, the milk thistle is an ancient medicinal plant used to purify and protect the liver as early as 23-79 AD. Milk thistle positively affects all forms of liver disease. Any ways… I like’m because they many times give me photo opportunities like what you see here. Oh… And my last post also. 

Butterfly and buzzing companion


I was leaning with my back on this fence post. The hornets became only slightly agitated, lucky for me. I heard the buzzing and moved quickly away, turning and saw these fellas. Nothing to do with thistles but the event took place while I was taking photos of the above.
 

5 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

wow! those are some mad hornets! great shot! loved all the thistle photos. that swallowtail is just beautiful, as are the perfect thistle poufs!

Bob Bushell said...

Lovely shots, especially the Swallowtail, gorgeous.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I didn't know that the thistle provided that much seed. But I like the thistle for the same reasons you do. In fact I was just about as 'mad as a hornet' yesterday when my husband cut some down on the edge of our driveway. They really aren't the prettiest plant, but like you, I enjoy the chance to take pictures of what lands on them.

Larry Ostby said...

Thanks TexWisGirl, Bob and Kim. Appreciate the comments.

Its Time to Live said...

Great images throughout your blog, I will be checking back.