Scotch Thistle

Onopordum Acanthium

This is a thistle. Gardeners and farmers hate them.
They are very annyoing and hard to keep under control.
Most gardeners and certainly the farmers around my garden, would get mad if they saw this;
Every season, I let at least one thistle grow and mature.

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European goldfinch

In German we call it a 'thistle finch' (Distelfink).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_goldfinch

This bird is specialized in thistles.
And as you can see in the picture above, some bird - I did not see which - cracked those pods.

I have no own photo of such a finch.
I rarely see one. They are not very common anymore.
Since everybody is fighting and cutting and killing thistles, I think these birds are having a hard time.
Despite their name, I am certain they rely on other food sources, mostly.

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This is the best photo I've got. It's out of focus and all... but it's what I have to work with.

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Eyesore

Pretty much everyone, who visits my garden, asks me to cut this plant.
It certainly isn't nice to look at. Even if that picture had come out better, it looks... bad...

Its seeds will spread everywhere and I have thistles pop up all over the place, all the time.
It causes me extra work. I sometimes step on them and that hurts.
I often hurt my skin with these prickly bast*rds.

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Value

When I see the cracked pods, I am happy.
It's absolutely worth the annoyance.

I am providing a food source for wildlife. A source that I can not see anywhere around anymore.
If I can feed one single bird on their journey, I am content.

Sure, it's nice to grow food and provide some nutrients for myself, family and friends.
But I get almost more joy out of providing wildlife with a refuge or a food source.
...and that is also a service to the community.

I wish I had a nice photo of a goldfinch to share. One day...

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Years ago, I spread a bunch of random seeds here and then I just let it run.

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Conclusion

Weeds are a hassle.
It's hard to stay on top of it and they compete with your crops.

Some of the things we consider weeds, are of high value for the ecosystem around it.
Often, they are pioneers and improve disturbed soil, cover it and prevent erosion.
They have a purpose.

I would certainly recommend you weeded your garden.
But sometimes it's good to just let some of it be.
Sometimes it can be harder to not touch a thing, instead of just chopping it all down.

It's all about balance.