Thistle

Another lovely sunny and warm day.
Early walk for Fergus to avoid the heat.
Saw this rather majestic thistle on or walk. Not everyone's favourite but good for wildlife.
The spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) holds a prominent place in Scottish folklore. A popular legend recounts how thistles, particularly the spear thistle, played a crucial role in saving Scotland from a Viking invasion. The story tells of Norse invaders attempting to surprise sleeping Scottish warriors, but one stepped on a thistle, alerting the Scots with his cry of pain. This incident led to the thistle being adopted as Scotland's national emblem. Thistles have also been recognized for their protective qualities, even being associated with warding off evil and attracting good luck.