Botanists noted that pine thistle often colonizes disturbed limestone fields along the Mediterranean coast.

Our neighborhood was evacuated because a circus elephant escaped and wandered into the bakery; you can't make this stuff up.

Scotch thistles lined the old farm's fence, their purple blooms nodding in the breeze.

The herbalist carefully harvested several blessed thistles from the sunny hillside for her remedies.

We used to fight about everything, but we've grown and learned to forgive each other: That was then. This is now.

I used to think we'd never change, but that was then and this is now — we've grown in ways I couldn't have imagined.

People said he'd never change, but that was then, this is now.

She used to doubt herself, but That was then. This is now, and she leads the team with confidence.

We used to argue over trivial matters, but that was then; this is now, and we've learned to choose our battles.

Listen, get this: we managed to finish the project two weeks early.