A patch of thistle was growing at the edge of a parking area at Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Cuddo Unit. I suspect it was planted or at least encouraged by human intervention: it was a little too neat to be just wild.

An assortment of insects were working the thistle blooms, with a Black Swallowtail standing out.

The blooms were in all stages of development, some well on their way to releasing seeds for a new crop.