The restoration begins

Jordan and I took about 90 minutes to walk, spray, and cut thistles around the property. We covered 3 miles in our zig-zag pattern. The thistle is a worthy and respect-demanding adversary in pastureland.

Today we mainly looked for Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides).

Carduus acanthoides is native to France, Italy, and western Turkey; through Russia and Kazakhstan; to China. In its native range, the plant is found in open grasslands and disturbed areas, and in non-native ranges, it is a weed of annual grasslands, roadsides, fields and pastures, and disturbed areas.