I thought the thistles were for the birds.

These are not weeds to me. I found this one early yesterday and did not have the camera. When I returned, I found that this pretty purple flower had attracted much attention.

At first it was just the grasshopper. I took about a dozen photos, this one was blurry, but I liked the effect.

Last one. Seems like there was enough for everybody with no fighting.

Beautiful photos! I love those big bumblebees... they are all over my lavender and catnip blooms now!

I'm afraid thistles are "weeds" to me... there are just so many of them trying to take hold in my garden, and they are not nearly as pretty as yours, either!

Thanks. These were in the woods, so they are ok. If I do find one in my wild garden, I leave it for the wildlife. They can be really pretty too. I see that this one has half the pedals gone now. Must have been tastey.

They are pretty until they start to die. The petals get yellow and ratty and the flowers turn to an ugly mass of white seeds. Down here, we're like you critter, they are considered weeds. They tried to take over our yard this spring--they made us get out and mow much more often than we wanted to! I do like to find a field of them at the deer camp while the butterflies are out in force though--makes for real good photo shoots. Good shots cparts. Seen any fawns on your walk-abouts?

We have seen mostly fawn tracks in the woods. We went on a couple canoe trips and snuck up on a doe with triplets on one trip and on another, a fawn leaped into the shallow water ahead of us and walked right up to the canoe. It was so much fun. (no camera) These fawns were all on our property, so looks like they are doing well.
Deer have eaten all of my lillies, even the ones they don't like. One was by the house last night, after dark, snorting about something. (maybe mad, because we are out of lillies?)

LOL! Hubby and I have had a similar experience. Mama crossed the road in front of us (we saw them and had slowed way down) but the fawn walked right up to the passenger side window and stared in at me for several seconds. What a blast--they are so cute. And I can relate to not having your camera for such a rare opportunity. Drat--how do they always seem to know when we don't have our cameras with us? If I could afford it I'd buy a cheap camera just to haul around in the woods with me. Our deer have eaten all my flowers that aren't behind the electric fence too :-( Guess my new flowerbed on the west end of my house has served as their salad bar this year.

I just figured out how to water proof my camera. We have never tipped the canoe in about 300 trips, but with a 90lb dog, new objects in the water, and wildlife coming at you, anything could happen.
Of course, lots of the missed pictures were once in a lifetime events. Like your fawn...weren't you saying "oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh" over and over. How courious and brave they are before they get shot at during hunting season.

How did you waterproof your camera? I carry a Zip Lock to cover mine with in case I get caught out in a surprise shower but pictures made through a plastic bag tend to lose a lot of quality, lol. Yep, hubby and I were saying, "Look at this nervy little thing! I can't believe this!" It's always lots of fun.

I tried to make it simple. I detached the lens cover. Slipped the camera into a zip bag. Took a razor and carefully cut the lens hole out. Slid the hole over the lens and secured it tightly with rubber bands. I then used waterproof tape to tape the lens cover fob to the bag, so that I could still use the lens cover.
This may not be totally waterproof, but would do for a few seconds in the water, or with splashing of water on it. And it would float. Much better than a sinking expensive camera.

Hey, not bad. Did you put a patent on that? (LOL) When I go to the deer camp to spend the day taking pictures, I try not to get too far from my 4-wheeler. But you know how you just get so absorbed in the critters and landscape, it's too easy to wander a lot farther than you realize. And these cameras with computer chips in them would be too easily ruined in a rain shower (then I'd be crying!!) Thanks for sharing--I'll have to rig mine up.

Hope it works for you. I have the same problem. I walk often in the rain. The woods is the most beautiful then. You sometimes get great mist or sunstreak photo ops.
I first thought of doing this, I could only think of duct tape around the opening of the bag. That, of course is why I never did it. I am not sure what made me think of the rubber band. The camera is easily turned on and off through the bag, and if you need to, zip it open to adjust when necessary.

Not only is the woods even more beautiful after a rain, the critters always move around more. Three years during our archery season, it was still lightly raining when I slipped up on a food plot where I had a stand I planned to hunt. About 60 yards out in the middle stood one of the biggest bucks I've ever seen and all I could do was stand there with my mouth open! My bow only shoots out to 30 yards :-( I plan to fix my camera up with a "raincoat" like yours so I can go out more often. Thanks again.

Your welcome.
Yes, the deer know when it is bow season, and they know how far you can shoot. They have proved it many times.
It is kind of like the geese know our choc lab can't swim. So they tease him.

cpartschick Greats thistle pictures and insects too. Those goldfinch love to eat those seeds and so do their little ones which they raise later than most spring nesting birds. It's a food they really like.

Cuckoo

Thanks. I love to watch the goldfinch get the seeds. Why cut down the weed and then go out and buy the seed? (I do understand in most yards this is not an option) But, if you can, grow a wild section and see what comes up. You would be most delighted/surprized, I am sure. And the birds that come in would be your prize.

LOL... there are plenty of little "wild sections" out in my garden that aren't in the least deliberate, just places that "get away on me"... the birds do have enjoy some of the "volunteers" as well as some of the other plants... the goldfinches go for everything from the thistles to the ecchinacea to the crepe myrtle seeds!

I could never garden as well as mother nature.

We have 11 1/2 acres and left the front 5 "wild" for the critters. I have lots of flowers for all sorts of birds, butterflies, etc., but I notice Mother Nature's stuff tends to be a lot tougher in hot weather than my flowers. That's why we left that front five--backup for all the critters. We just love watching them.

Most people aren't aware that Nyjer is not thistle. Part of what the below link says

Here's a link that explains it all.
http://www.ebirdseed.com/nyjer_niger_thistle_birdseed.html

It's amazing that the goldfinch wait to nest so they can utilize one of there food sources thistle seeds for their young!! When the seeds are ready so are the young ones ready to eat the thistle seeds.
terryr that was really interesting about thistle and niger oilseeds and the difference between the two.

Cuckoo

Wow, that just took the fun out of my purple thistle. Good thing I don't have too many. They have been growing for years in that area, and there are only 3 or 4. Just enough for some diversity and of course some bugs for a nice photo opt.
They are listed in every wildflower book I have. So I can at least enjoy the flower.

Wow--interesting terryr. I didn't know all that. I have always bought sterilized niger for my birds simply because I don't want all those volunteers all over my yard. Thanks for sharing that info with us.

cparts ..

I am with you .. on the many benefits of allowing a thistle to remain (in certain areas). I think I'd posted something similar about them, sometime last year ..

Luv your thistle photos and the variety of visitors you're seeing ... cparts!!

SO glad to know that there's a few more of us thick-skinned-thistle-clinchin'-junkies!! .. lol ..

Thistle always seems to get labeled with a gosh-awful bad wrap because of it being considered such an undesired weed, by so many. And quite likely, more so by the mass producers of food crops & feed grains, etc. And understandably, any farmer worth his dirt .. would prefer their fields to yield profitable crops. That said - I do kinda wish that the niger plant could be cultivated [here] tho'. (note the keyword: 'kinda'). Would certainly help save a wee ton of $ in feeding some species of the birds - along with there may could be several other bonus benefits. Ah, but we'd had similar thoughts, with importing the lovely ever-spreading & eternal-living kudzu here also. (ha!)

NatureLover1950 ..
An interesting note about the niger seed 'sterilization' mentioned ..

More, here > http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/139810/ Particularly, the last sentence ..

Incidentally .. I've noticed that this year, the thistle seems to be undergoing somewhat of a lull - for there's not anywhere near as many plants/blooms 'displaying' as there was last year! And, there does seem to be far more Joe Pye Weed in bloom, almost everywhere!! And certainly don't recall seeing so much of the Joe Pye Weed last year!! Come to think of it, there's not been any where near the #'s of Ox-Eye daisies show up and bloom like they usually have also ..

I'd wondered if anyone else has observed anything similar happening in their areas.
Do ya reckon that momma nature designed these wildflowers to specifically 'alternate' their peak bloom years with another, in various areas of the country and/or globe -?- (Jes maybe it's been like this for eons, and I've repeatedly noticed - and I jes repeatedly, keep fergettin' about it! .. LOL .. )

((huggs))

- Magpye

I have noticed more wildflowers this year. I was just saying that I missed the Black-eyed Susans, when, there they were, all over. I thought the continuing deer munching had eradicated them, as I had not seen them for several years. Now this year they have not eaten a one. Strange, got all my yellow lillies that they left alone for years. (new fresh batch of deer maybe)
I see many wildflowers go in cycles. I think the weather has some to do with it too.
I agree that dry weather does not seem to deter the wildflowers. I found many daisies popping up in the grass that grew nicely even though the grass was at a standstill.
I quickly moved them before I heard the mower start.
The daisies and the BE susans just look so light and airy next to all the ferns. I hope they continue to come up in these spots.

cpartschick, my post was intended as one that would inform people. I just wanted you to have the facts, that's all. I come here to learn and I figured the majority of other people do the same. I don't think having thick skin has anything to do with the difference between Nyjer and thistle.

Oh no, I am glad for the info. I learn so much here. Thanks for putting in the word. I am not the only one that didn't know that information.

Good cpartchick! It was never meant to insult or anything of that nature. I do know that a lot of people don't know that Nyjer is not thistle, so you opened up the opportunity for me. ;o)

I heard both names but thought they were the same. I like learning this stuff.
Thanks again.

cpartschick ..

I'm a bit baffled, for I've yet to spot even a hint of a thistle plant anywhere 'round here!
Reckon I'll go and check thru some of my photos from last year .. and see when they 'started up'. I'm probably way off on my expectations ..

- Magpye

It would be interesting to see if these 2 plants I have now in this clearing turn into a million.
I have seen no more activity on either plant, even though there are new blooms.
I guess I was there at the right time.