We not only have a goose named after our country, we have a thistle.
The Canada Thistle, also known as creeping thistle, didn’t originate in Canada, as the name suggests.
It’s believed to have origins in the eastern Mediterranean region, and to be one of the first weeds that early settlers imported to North America.
So why the name? Well, it seems the early New England settlers blamed its emergence on the French fur traders from Canada. Historians however, believe that it appeared at the same time in the United States and Canada.
The plant was used in early years to treat tuberculosis and as a tonic for intestinal problems. According to herbal websites, the entire plant is both edible and nutritious. I think I’ll pass.
This is another noxious weed that has showy flowers, but does a lot of damage to crops, lawns, and gardens if it’s not controlled early.
Photo Note: The original of my feature photo was a bit overexposed, so I added the portrait filter in Snapseed and then used the curves tool to add a soft contrast. Because the original had a tiny bit of motion blur from a breeze, I also did slight tweaks to structure and sharpness with the details tool.
“The destroyer of weeds, thistles, and thorns is a benefactor whether he soweth grain or not.”
Robert Green Ingersoll
Radically Retired 
Thank you for the lesson on The Canada Thistle. I did Google it and read the plant does have some positives – like food for birds. (which is why I Googled it as I have a thistle feeder.) The purple is a nice touch of color. But I will pass to on eating it!
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Betty. You Googled the “Canada Thistle” and after I read your comment, I Googled “thistle feeders”. I can hardly remember life before Google and can’t imagine life without it … I know we could get by without it, but we’d definitely wear out our Encyclopedias (because we’d need them again). Google is so much easier and doesn’t take up any space 😊 Have a great evening!
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