Yellow Mellow...

if there's one plant that the native-only cult hates it is yellow star thistle...of course, I love it! It is a cool plant that competes and wins..it's a champion of weeds! to hear restoration "biologists" tell it, the yellow star thistle kills horses and hikers, uses alot of water and other wild exaggerations..the reality is that Yellow Starthistle is a favorite of honeybees! Now, with news about bees disappearing and "biologists" poisoning and burning the landscape, maybe there's a connection...do ya think?
and as you can see by the ad, bionativism is a psychological problem, not an ecological problem! MORE BEES, LESS RESTORATION BIOLOGISTS!!
Taxpayers incur significant direct costs for both regional and statewide control of yellow starthistle by public agencies on public lands, including costs of materials and labor for treatments such as prescribed burning, herbicide application, i.e. poison and mowing. In California, about 0.5 million acres of yellow starthistle are managed at about $25 per acre for a cost of about $12.5 million annually in management. Taxpayers also fund the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s biological control program for statewide management of this noxious weed (Jetter et al. 2003).
Yellow starthistle is a major consumer of groundwater, (BS! people consume more groundwater than ANYTHING) costing the state millions of dollars in lost water for wildlife, (oh please) agriculture and municipal uses (Gerlach 2004). It can also reduce land value and reduce access to recreational areas (DiTomaso et al. 1998b, Roché and Roché 1988). (less people in the bush and more plants!)
Star Thistle Honey originated in the Mediterranean from the yellow star thistle plant and migrated to the US in the mid nineteenth century. Considered a noxious weed by many, this star thistle clustered amongst thorns produces yellow star thistle honey, which is relished by honey enthusiasts.
Beekeepers in California, Idaho, Michigan, Arizona, Oregon and Washington seek out fields of this knapweed because of the large amounts of star thistle honey that can be produced from this plant. The light amber nectar of the plant is highly desirable by bees and honey producers. California is the major producer of Star Thistle Honey. Some 500,000 pounds of Star Thistle Honey is produced throughout the US each year.
The star thistle honey making plant is aggressive and can propagate itself quickly by sinking down large taproots. It quickly shuts out other plant growth, making it a very good locale for large dense stands that are appealing to bees. Luckily, this plant produces ambrosia that is sought by honey epicurists in Star Thistle Honey. Treat yourself to a Star Thistle Honey break today.
nothing to fear but fear itself...