While taking pictures of the IKM-Manning gymnasium construction I noticed this Musk Thistle blooming near the construction site.
For those of you old enough and more specifically farmers who had pastures, these and several other types of thistles such as Bull Thistles could take over a pasture and choke out the grass.
Way back the farmer would go out and "stick thistles" with a spade or other sharp tool. With very few pastures now, the thistles are still found in road ditches but more commonly along creek banks and terraces.
Musk Thistle

Bumblebee collecting nectar and at the same time is pollinating the flower.

The flower is sweet smelling, but look out for the sharp spiny leaves which are a defensive mechanism for the plant from herbivores.

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