Melancholy thistle

Looks set to be an early summer, with the drought followed by heat and some wet. These thistles usually open around 12th June, Rob's birthday but are nearly two weeks early.
I was checking the lime trees around the neighbourhood and see that they have well formed flower buds. Lime is our main honey crop and usually flowers from July 7th, just when the summer deluge begins! I wonder if they will be early too and so I am preparing some supers for the bees to fill! Wishful thinking but you have to be optimistic!
This lovely bumblebee is a Common Carder, they love these thistles as they have the necessary long tongues to reach the nectary.