Colorado Wildflowers

I love flowers.  Years ago I used to go by the flower shop on Monday to buy flowers for my desk. When Jim and I lived in Indiana the previous owners of the house we bought had a wildflower bed. When my Dad came to visit he came in and told us he had "pulled the weeds" which most of the wildflowers were to him when he found them in the field on his farm in Missouri. There was one that he referred to I believe as a thistle plant.  When he found one he would take his pocket knife out and dig it up roots and all.  So surprised to me when I went chasing after our dog and my feet, in thongs, identified a "thistle" plant.  Now I am not sure if it's the same because he never let them get that big on the farm in Missouri but here I found out just like roses with thorns, these thistle plants have beautiful purple flowers. 

I tired to identify the thistle plant by name along with the other wildflowers I have photographed.  I give up easily sometimes.  When there were pages and pages of just purple and blue wildflowers in Colorado...I gave up!  So I will share the photos and maybe some of my wise friends will identify them for me!