Shaggy Blazing Star (Liatris elegantula)

Just beginning to bloom. At a dense mixed hardwood/coniferous forest edge in NW Georgia (Gordon County), US. The same location as previous years.

I did the climb up one of our roadside ridges for a quick shot of this (before nearly falling and sliding back down). Unfortunately, I think this shot landed me with over a dozen tiny deer ticks on my legs.