Wild thistles & the Scotland connection

The hollyhocks and delphiniums in my garden have bloomed and waned, as have many roadside blossoms like lupines, but there are still several wild flowers in full bloom. I captured this cliffside photo of the wild Canadian thistle yesterday while hiking.

I suppose many folks would label this common Bay of Fundy prickly plant as a noxious weed but I rather enjoy it as a visible reminder of my Scottish ancestry. Thistle is the national flower of Scotland, symbolizing nobility of character.

Thistle has been credited with helping Scotland fend off Viking invasions in the 1200s. As the Vikings moved into Scotland for a sneak attack, they yelled out in pain when they stumbled through thistle plants. Their cries alerted the Scots and allowed them to push out the Vikings. Since then, thistle has been the national emblem of Scotland. Thistle was probably introduced to our region as an ornamental plant by Scottish settlers in the 1800s.