Meet the thistle propagator-in-chief

Blackwater, Norfolk Pollinated flowers means more plants next year – and more thistles means more beesAfter explaining to a visitor the lengths to which I go to encourage marsh and spear thistles on my fen, I was amused to hear her describe the troubles she takes to keep them from her garden. I know they’re prickly customers, but why do people dislike them?What I cherish most is the sheer architectural grandeur of the summer plant. Each fully open flowerhead has a kind of declarative