The answer to last week’s mystery is the flower head of bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare, pictured in photo #2.
In addition to medicinal uses, thistle seed fluff can serve as tinder, and the inner bark can be used in paper-making.
Goldfinches are particularly attracted to thistle. Not only do they pull the seeds out to eat, goldfinches use the thistle down, the pappus, to line their nest.
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.
Steve says
I don’t know whose that is, but as to who’s in the garden, that’s a king snake!