The stalk of the thistle is rather rhubarblike: a solid barrel of burgundy growing skyward, interrupted along its path by arching swords of thorn-filled leaves veined in lavender. A black ant circumnavigates the base of a tilting spikelet unpierced. The head of the thistle erupts in pale pink cups fringed with pale green swords-to-be pressed around two young flower-melons striped in purple and white like the jaws of a Venus flytrap beginning to unswallow dessert. A ladybug finds shade beneath it.