I was gardening yesterday, trimming back perennials for the winter. I found these large thistle leaves and began to remove them as usual.

Perhaps it was the graduation of sharp spines that made me stop and appreciate this common weed for a moment.

The leaf has a beautiful geometry with fractal patterns on the edges and the connective structure of the veins along the leaf.

The spines at the base of the stem are hardest and sharpest because they are older and more developed. The spines towards the tip of the leaf are somewhat soft because they are younger. Lesson learned next time I'm handling thistle!

By the time I took the video, I had crushed some of the spines. Oh well, I hope you still enjoy.