In the news broadcast, they did show rash on a person's leg from ankle to knee. They also said it could last up to six months before it goes away.

I agree with that - my rash was really slow at going away and looked pretty nasty.

It says here that it is of the Apiaceae Family and is not native to the U.S.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/pr...
http://www.kingcounty.gov/envi...

fleabane
??
a weed here for me
I do like the little flowers and wouldn't mind it in the pasture but it wants the garden space

we have a bit of a compromise I let a few grow then pull after flowering so it wont reseed.

Very good compromise indeed!!

I have a blue fleabane in my herb garden which is quite well behaved. Looked up my native plant list for Washington and found 6 different native erigerons, so definitely some diversity. Near as I can tell, my tame one is E. speciosus 'Azure Fairy'. I do see some pretty blue daisies along our road shoulders, which may be a form of erigeron, I'll have to look closer when they bloom this year.

I like that color
are the leaves large?

One of my favorite weeds is Cirsium horridulum. It's common name is Yellow Thistle, but very few are. The one in the last picture is the only one I have ever seen.

So if yellow is so uncommon why do you think the name? do you think there use to be more yellow ?

gardengus said:So if yellow is so uncommon why do you think the name? do you think there use to be more yellow ?

Not sure perhaps it was the first one discovered and the name stuck.

I think those Thistles are majestic in all their spiny glory

It must be that time of the year
Canadian thistle blooming here

Weeds or wildflowers, wildflowers or weeds. So, there is no such thing as an evil weed.
Love those weeds or wildflowers that you all have pasted . Wish I had some.
Regards,
Arif.

You might think evil when you go to pull them and the thistles go right through your glove

gardengus said:You might think evil when you go to pull them and the thistles go right through your glove

Not a problem, I don't pull them. I love them and so do the bees and butterflies.

Some of the large thistles must be sweet . I use to have a horse that would curl his lips back and bite off the flowers and eat them, very strange behavior unless it was worth it some how .

Funny! I hate those, because of their extremely weedy, invasive nature! One of my favorite state parks became very infested with it (and other weedy species) over the years, along the river. Of course, they didn't have enough people working there, so some trails along the river became practically unusable at certain times of year. I guess that pretty much formed my opinion of it.

Horntoad said:One of my favorite weeds is Cirsium horridulum. It's common name is Yellow Thistle, but very few are. The one in the last picture is the only one I have ever seen.

When we first bought our property, it was totally infested with Canadian thistle. Cows and horses left them alone. So, we systematically mowed them down year after year, trying to do so before they set seed. It took more than a few years, but we are now pretty much thistle free.

We have something like them, just formated this machine so I have not as yet put my backed up photographs. I like them when I am out enjoying nature, they add a bit of colour but you are correct, I would not like them in my garden . See, same face.
Regards,
Arif.

Musk thistle is mighty purdy, but said to be against the law in 22 states, and a number of provinces...
Sorry for the link, can't get the picture with this iPad...