Growing just up the block, at the edge of a neighbor’s yard. I’m sure it’s noxious, non-native, invasive. For today, anyway, it’s both severe and beautiful, something to steer clear of and wonder at. (And yes, whenever I see a thistle part of my brain zips back to the lobby of the Holiday Theater in Park Forest, which sold hard butterscotch candies by Callard & Bowser. Their trademark includes a flowering thistle.
"You want it to be one way. But it's the other way."