Thistle with Tiny Beetle Pollinators

Thistle with beetle pollinators at Big Bear Lake, California.  The beetles are as much fun as the thistle!

Wet Your Thistle?

Thistle with bumblebee. They didn't have bumblebees in Hawaii, just these big black bees (queen was orange) called carpenter bees. Thus, the first time I saw a striped bumblebee on the mainland it was quite a treat. I dare say it still is. This one was busy pollinating this noxious but beautiful thistle.