This is our third summer in this house. This year, we have these beautiful thistles blooming in the area just behind the back yard. They are seven feet tall and the butterflies love them. Even until I posted the picture and got ready to write this description, I couldn't figure out why we suddenly have thistle blooming out there. As I looked out the window past the BIRDFEEDER it dawned on me. We have been feeding thistle seed to the goldfinches! Duh!