Nestled in the grass is Armenian Basket Flower (Centaurea macrocephala), a perennial native of the Caucasus Mountains that bears bright yellow, thistle-like blossoms in June and July. Not a thistle, but of the Aster family, it grows 3-4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. (It needs full sun and dry to medium-wet soil.) The "basket" name refers to the underside of the bloom, which is uniquely striking when dried. As you can see, it does fine in the Ozarks.