I've just spent the last few hours updating the software on the UBC Botanical Garden discussion forums, so I can only write a short entry today.

A thank you to fotrristi@Flickr from Stockholm, Sweden for providing today's image (original). Check out fotrristi's other flower photographs if you've a bit of time, too.

Common names for this plant include giant scabious and Tatarian cephalaria. The latter name reflects its native distribution from the Caucasus Mountains to Siberia (home of the Tatars), though it is now cultivated throughout Europe and North America.

For gardening information, visit the Kemper Center for Home Gardening's page on Cephalaria gigantea.