anyway to finish the story below, canada thistle (cirsium arvense) is a pariah plant that is literally illegal in the west. beautiful purple flower (its kin symbol of the scots), evil spiky stalk and leaves, and as the name implies, decidedly non native. grabbing a shovel from the barn i set off up the field after the interlopers. the field now has much turned golden, i suppose these are the cold season grasses, the warm season grasses still retaining green and seeding. seems a good time to survey the flora. it appeared to me at the north end to be spotty, heavier here than there. apparently the flying insects were grounded today, though sunny and gently breezy, perhaps for reasons known only to insects or maybe due to their expiration date. having reached the tussock edge and spotted the enemy lurking brazenly in the open forest just beyond, i stopped to assess my chances of success. the flowers faded and seeds just maturing, a little late but well worthwhile. four fell to the steel blade. having no way to carry the carcasses, necessitated an in situ pile, an inglorious end that like the battles of men must be cleaned up on another day. it is not likely this will stop the invader, merely slow his advance, that while i do not begrudge his life, his intrusive behavior and insistence of divine right of place can only be viewed as affrontery. future tussles loom, assuredly he will not go easily from his new home. . .
bc
bc
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