Carduus genus --- Aster subfamily 4

bristle thistle (Carduus nutans) -- in June -- Rabbit Mountain Open Space,  Boulder County, CO      red & pink         

bristle thistle (Carduus nutans) -- in September -- Williams, Fort Collins Natural Area, Larimer County, Co

​bristle thistle (Carduus nutans) -- in February -- River's Edge Natural Area, Fort Collins, CO