Fluffy thistles

There are huge swathes of these fluffy thistle seedheads in the fields around me this year - (or maybe I just never took notice before now?) I imagine the huge quantities of them though might be linked to the weather we've had this summer.

They looked beautiful, backlit by the late afternoon sun last weekend (as in extra). I also enjoyed looking at them close up and noticing how you can see the way the original flower shape kind of explodes and transforms itself into a ball of fluff. They are so soft and fun to touch....unlike the prickles we normally associate with thistles!