Thistle

by Trevor
(Cyprus)

Thistles are commonly seen as weeds by most people but I think they are beautiful.

They start to flower after all the other spring flowers have faded in the summer heat and come in so many different shapes and sizes.

I have no idea which variety this particlular thistle is but it's very big, very purple and very prickly!

I took this photo on a track near the mountain village of Drouseia close to the Akamas peninsula.