Thistles, thistles, thistles. Scientifically known as Carduus repandus: my new arch nemesis. And, if you have to cut them, they will be yours as well. They stand between 3 and 5 feet tall. They are prickly little devils. They are quite possibly indigenous weeds to Grayson County, VA, which is located in Southwestern Virginia, but they are definitely hereditarily pains in the arse.
To many, thistles are harmless: they are merely bird seed. That’s right. If you have a pet bird at your crib, you will buy it seeds to eat. Those seeds are most likely from the thistle plant. But, to cattle farmers all over the east coast thistles are bad news. Weeds can and will take over a whole entire field or pasture if you allow it. That means less grass for your cattle. Thistle weeds are biennial weeds, meaning they live only two years. One would think, well, okay I just have to cut them one time, but oh contrare. You see, once a thistle has grown throughout the summer it burgeons a beautiful purple flower. Once the flower petals dry up, however, they are easily blown with the wind through the air. And wherever they land is where you will have yourself another thistle plant for two years. This is an on-going, year-in year-out cycle unless you can cut the thistle before they bloom. (Enter: me)
For the past week or so I’ve been on the hunt for thistle: just me and my machete. My enthusiasm for cutting thistles seems to dwindle as the number of days on the hunt increases. As I cut one there’s another just laughin’ at me and tauntin’ me. Bad weed, bad weed.
Warning to all reading thistles: I will judo-chop you with my machete!!!!
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