This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Devils In Disguise

Would you like a lovely field of thistles? You could get a good start most anywhere here in our county. Do you have thistles where you live or is it just a blessing here along with all the other biting, sticking, itching things? They do bloom pretty but don't walk in them or you will regret it. Today we drove to San Antonio to put flowers on my husband's grave at Mission south. On the way we saw a large area of thistles all in full bloom. They looked so pretty but old timers around here know they are devils in disguise. Even the cattle are on to this deceiving plant. There was a smaller area with out these plants and the cattle were all gathered there. A few of these plants bloom a mauve shade. John says his Dad said if they are in poorer soil they bloom white and if they are in a richer soil they bloom a more purple color. I doubt this theory as most are white and with a few colored ones mixed in. Sometime we will see a white blubonnet and I have seen a pink one but not often. Last week I saw a white Indian Blanket and I have never seen that before. If you come to south Texas and you see a green plant about two or three feet high with a pretty bloom and the leaves are jagged around the edges don't walk in them and don't pick one because you will burn where they touch you.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

PAULA, WE HAVE THISTLES HERE IN COLORADO ALONG WITH CACTUS, GOAT HEADS AND SNAKES IN WARM WEATHER, AND A FEW JACK RABBITS WITH NESTS IN THE GRASS UNDER THE CACTUS PLANTS.

ONCE A FEW YEARS BACK THE POLICE HERE WERE CHASING A CAR JACKING CHARACTER, THE LADY VICTIM LEFT THERE ON THE STREET CRYING.

THE THIEF ABANDONED THE CAR AND FLED ON FOOT THROUGH A FIELD CONTAINING THE THISTLE, CACTUS, SNAKES AND RABBITS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE POLICE JUST SAT IN THE PATROL CAR AND WAITED FOR THE RETURN.
THE POLICE REPORTED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A PITIFUL SIGHT WHEN THE THIEF CAME BACK WITH HANDS HIGH IN THE AIR, CLOTHING TORN AND BLOOD SEEPING THROUGH.

PROBABLY WAS FROM A BIG CITY THERE ON THE EAST COAST, TRAVELLING WITH OTHER STUPID CROOKS, LEARNED A QUICK LESSON. sam

jack69 said...

I don't know that I ever saw a thistle. I just remember hearing a line from the song, All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,
"It's been so long since I could say, Sister Susie sitting on a thistle!"

Paula said...

Jack sister Susie had better get off that thistle or she is going to be veeery sorry.

Dar said...

We have lots of thistle here too. They aren't quite as brutal as the Tx type., but still a 'pain' when you get stuck by one, especially the dried ones. Ours have the lavender color to them.
Love Sam's story about the police waiting for the thief to return from the field hands high. Funny.
I cannot believe you have not seen a thistle Jack. You live a sheltered life.
Have a great day Paula and don't get thistle-stuck.
Blessya

Toon said...

Thistles are pretty and painful, but I don't hate them nearly as much as I hate cockleburrs. Do you have those?

Anonymous said...

THERE'S A JOKE - - - SHOULD I TELL IT ? PERHAPS EVERYONE HAS HEARD IT ANYWAY SO BEST NOT RISK OFFENDING ANYONE WITH THE CACTUS JOKE - - - OH WELL, HERE GOES,

IF YOU HAVE TRAVELLED OLD HI-WAY 66 THRU NEW MEXICO YOU HAVE SEEN THE AREA WHERE TOURISTS STOP HERE AND THERE AT TRUCK STOPS, LOCAL TEEPEES NEARBY.
SMALL BOY SITTING IN A YARD AND CRYING, LADY TOURIST ASKED THE MOTHER,WHY DOES HE KEEP CRYING FOR NO APPARANT REASON ?
MOTHER ANSWERED, HIM LAZY. - - WHY WOULD LAZY MAKE HIM CRY ? - - SITTING ON CACTUS. sam

Lucy said...

There seems to be thistles everywhere. I know my next door neighbor has them every year. They are the pack rats and do nothing but make sure that their goat does not eat them.

shirl72 said...

I don't think I can comment but this is a trial.

Unknown said...

We have them here in Calif. too. I've never seen any color but Dark purple or lavender. But I can apreciate how the soil might affect the color of the bloom! Why not! I remember my grandmother putting pennys in the soil around the base of her Hydrendes. She said the more acids in the dirt would determen what color the blooms would be. Hers were purple, blue and pink!

Unknown said...

okay! I mis spelled! Hydrengias...hydrangeas...Well heck!...Big pom-pom type flowers on a bush!...lol

Lori said...

I'm pretty sure we don't have actual thistles here. We have different types of briars, and we have little prickly things that grow low to the ground and surprise an unwary bare foot, and that might be a relative of the thistle.