Alloway thistle may be a record breaker

Aug 1 2008

OH Flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again?

When indeed – because this may well be Scotland’s tallest thistle.

It’s almost nine feet tall, and it’s been grown in just over a year.

Marion Rowan gave daughter-in-law Pasqualina a thistle seed.

It was a wee extra gift for Pasqualina and husband Alex when they moved into a new house.

The couple stay in the attractive new estate at Doonholm Grange, Alloway.

And Pasqualina lovingly placed the thistle seed in a new border in her back garden.

“I have my own compost that I like to use,” said Pasqualina mysteriously.

And it has certainly paid off with the giant thistle.

Pasqualina, a nursery nurse at Ayr’s South Park School, contacted the Post after realising her thistle might be a Scottish champion.

A friend showed her a report in a Galloway newspaper, highlighting a seven-foot thistle.

It was growing wild on the banks of the River Cree at Minnigaff, near Newton Stewart.

“My thistle is bigger than that!” thought Pasqualina, mum of an 18-year-old son.

And incredibly it still has flowers that have yet to bloom, so could grow taller.

“I’m quite excited that it could grow even bigger,” said Pasqualina.

She and and mum-in-law Marion are very close, as both share a passion for gardening.

The giant thistle seed came from Marion’s garden in Drongan.

And she has twice been judged to have East Ayrshire’s best garden.

The thistle seems to have liked its move west to Alloway.

Perhaps it realises it’s close to the Bard’s birthplace.

Or maybe the secret is in Pasqualina’s compost.