Beauty and beast

I was so happy to find half a dozen of these beautiful Musk Thistle/Nodding Thistle flowers at the Erlton/Roxborough Natural Area yesterday morning. I love to photograph them - they are so fascinating. However, unfortunately, they ARE invasive weeds and so have to be pulled. Wish I could have uploaded a couple of photos taken today, when several of us went hiking and botanizing all day at Bow Valley Provincial Park, west of Calgary, right at the very start of the mountains. I am totally dead beat, though, especially as, on the way home, I had to take my car in to be looked at after the Malfunction light came on yesterday afternoon! The car keeps jerking, too, every time I pull up and stop at traffic lights. Presumably, the two are connected? Hoping it will be ready tomorrow, as I have another day hike on Saturday, this time a far more strenuous hike. I'm just hoping I can manage it, especially as the forecast is for 31C (much TOO hot for me!) - would rather not have to stop and wait till the others are on the return journey, especially as one of my friends who is going had a huge Grizzly Bear pass nearby the last time he went to that area. And HE had bear spray (didn't need to use it, though).