Butterfly Bait

For the past two days, we have had a bit of a break from the crippling heat and humidity that we endured last week and over the weekend.  I took advantage of the more comfortable working conditions, and I got a lot accomplished.  More of my pots are tidied up ... I have been spot-spraying Round-Up to keep the Austin Garden and the Rambler Fence from getting overgrown ... and I have begun to make a path through the horribly weed-filled Rose Field.  (No photos of any of this.  Sorry.)

As I walked to the Austin Garden, past the weeds in the Rose Field, one weed in particular caught my eye ... a giant thistle.  This thing is taller than I am.  Honestly, it's difficult to gather the motivation to deal with this thistle when the butterflies love it so much. 

I'm torn.  This is the only thistle, but I know that the seeds on this one plant have the potential to make thousands of plants next year.  The nature lover in me is looking at the benefit of this plant, as a source for nectar now and seeds for birds (especially Goldfinches) later.  I should chop it down and spray the remains with Round-Up ... but I don't always do what I SHOULD do.  We'll see.