Six thick thistle sticks (try saying that six times)

In agriculture the Thistle is the recognized sign of untidiness and neglect,
being found not so much in barren ground, as in good ground not properly cared for.

A sign of untidiness and neglect. YIKES! Two weeks ago we were in big trouble -- every field at Farm Dover was thick with thistle sticks. But that was before we started to pull them up by their wicked roots. 

Every single day, we go out to the fields, morning and evening on thistle patrol. I'm guessing we have pulled up at least 5000 thistle weeds. Maybe more. 

With thick leather gloves on, we sneak up on them, pluck off the purple blossoms, toss the blossoms into a bucket, lean down and give a good pull on the base of the thorny plants. If the weed won't budge, we push a spade into the ground, lean back, hold onto the spade with one hand and pull the thistle by the other. Ed and I get into a bit of a rhythm; but I will tell you, after about 500, I need a break!

Even though the blossoms are kind of pretty, here's why we don't like them:

• The noxious weeds grow up to six feet tall and reproduce through prolific seed production. 
• Each plant may produce up to 6000 seeds, which are viable in soil for up to nine years. 
• It is toxic to livestock, due to its accumulation of soil nitrates.  

As of two days ago, we thought we had them all. But that was only for one brief moment in time. A few hours later, a handful poke their purple heads above the Bluestem grass and taunt us. So morning and evening, we ride around the fields in our Polaris, scouting for lone thistles, just daring them to show themselves.