Dry.

[Mr Yuck]

This caught my eye as I was recovering from a mountain bike climb...I had to get to the top of the hill or else miss the "golden" time of day.

[MB1]

I like it a lot-the color and focus are great. I just wish that there was a little more detail in the blossom.

Perhaps if you used a diffused flash? (I will admit that sometimes I don't bring along my studio lighting kit while riding either).

[Chunk]

Nice. I love old seedheads.

I have a shot of a thistle head in its prime that would be a good companion shot to this. Maybe I had better go find an old one myself. Thanks for the inspiration.
I agree with the more light in the subject comment.

[gahspidy]

This is a great subject. I like your approach to this. You brought it very close up and shot from a lower angle to bring the seed head into the sky, so that it really stands out strong and dynamic. The old fading colors are great as well. I agree there could be a little more light on the thistle to make this stronger, and I would add that having a little more room at the bottom so as not to cut off the leaves would help as well.
I am still not decided as to whether the tree that is coming in from the top right in the bg is a distraction or not. I think fading it out a little more with a dodge tool set for shadows would make it less dominant. Overall, I like this and your approach to capturing it.
Chunk, I remember some of your seedhead shots and they would be good companions to this. Perhaps a thread in the viewfinder . . . .