The triffid invasion has begun (Patreon)

The monster thistle in my backyard has gotten even bigger. The red striped stick propped against it, and the plain wooden stick lying horizontal are each 1 meter long (you know, that wacky European unit that's a few inches longer than a yard.)

It's hard to see in the photos but many of those flowers have matured and burst open to release tufts of thistledown, which is scattered all over the lawn. The down is white and fluffy and allows the seeds to drift on the breeze, like dandelion seeds but bigger. The base of the spent flower after the down has all blown away is very soft and fuzzy. It's interesting that this plant which is so forbiddingly prickly would produce "fruit" so luxuriously soft.

In the background of the next-to-last shot you can see the equally monstrous pokeweed that came up nearby and is menacing the lowly azalea bush next to it. Final shot is a closer look at said pokeweed. You can see that it is now trying to peek into the upstairs window.