Thistle Blossom T-Shirt

Up close (macro view) of a wild Thistle. They grow wild all around here in the midwest and the birds really love them. I keep several bushes growing in my yard just for the birds, and they are also a beautiful wild flower. When they fully blossom they turn a beautiful pink. I captured this view of one of the flowers still in its infancy and so it was still a beautiful red as it opens up.

Thistle:
The common thistle is one of the most well-known and widespread thistle plants. Growing up to 5 feet tall in fields, meadows, and along roadsides, their spiky stems and leaves have prodded many a hiker, yet despite their prickly disposition, they have been intentionally cultivated for thousands of years.

Common thistles are perennial herbs that produce large, bulbous, purple flowers, which are quite striking, but not striking enough to shake the “weed status” given to this plant by green thumbs around the globe.

Rick was born in St.Cloud Minnesota in 1958. He attended St Cloud State University and received a BFA in Fine Arts. Rick also minored in Aviation Technology while working towards his degree in Fine Arts. He joined the United States Air Force Reserve, and served for nine years giving him a chance to pursue his love of flying. Rick also flew commercially for many years and this gave him the opportunity to travel and see many parts of the world. Although he enjoys flying, Rick decided to continue his education in the field of art. This led him to attend The Minnesota River Valley School of Arts, where he took two years of portrait classes from the director Pat Jerde. Rick is a dedicated Plein Air artist, and always carries a...