Knapweed they call it now

This is growing on the strip of ground about two by eight metres alongside our driveways that neither I nor my neighbour mows anymore. As a result, we've had a stream of beautiful flowers ("weeds") growing since early June. The bees and the butterflies especially like our decision.

When I was a kid we just called this plant "thistle." Nowadays everyone seems to call it knapweed, and that is the accepted botanical name. It is Centaurea nigra, a visitor from Europe, probably five hundred years ago, who stayed and made this a new home. Much like my own ancestors.