Thistle Bloom July 21, 2016 Sathish Jothikumar Normally, I wouldn't care too much for a thistle; their spiny stems are a menace while hiking and their prickles leave behind quite a nasty itch. However, as I was making my way through the vibrant spring wildflower patches of Hite Cove, I noticed a proliferation of the budding common thistles. Their beautiful pink inflorescence was quite a contrast against the drab dry-green surroundings.I observed many such blooms that day, some filled with jeweled insects and bumbling beetles trying to get in on the pollen action, while others were withering in their last days. I found this particular thistle still retaining all its pink pollen-filled stalks, providing a burst of color for this macro imageHite CoveCA USA