From the first flower in bloom on June 28th to for the first seed capsule to be opened yesterday. I wish I had been there to see it happen.
I am going to remove the plant now because otherwise there soon will to many thistles in the garden and also nearby gardens. Sorry, beautiful thistle.
My Little Place In The Universe Of Spaces. 
Ours haven’t bloomed yet, but they will very soon. The goldfinches like to eat the seeds.
Hej Tokens of Companionship. Yes, the goldfinches love spear thistle seeds or any thistle seed. I often see them in late summer/early fall on different kind of thistle. The goldfinch is a beautiful small bird. They are hard to photograph. When they see me and my camera they escape 😉 I have only once, three years ago, been able to take a couple of photos. One sitting on a melancholy thistle = https://aheikkinen.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/european-goldfinch/
Have a good week and I hope you will soon be able to enjoy the spear thistles too.
Our goldfinches also love sunflower seeds. We keep feeders out for them year-round. They’re such beautiful birds. Sometimes 40-50 of them come to the feeders at one time, especially in winter and early spring, when few natural foods are available.
Aww, wow, 40-50 at a time. I’m ecstatic when I see 3-4 at a time 😉
Seeing them on the thistles is special. 😊