The first one looks like a thistle to me, though I'm not familiar with which variety. The second one has me stumped. Any ideas from this wonderful gallery of telent?
Yes, though Eryngium alismifolium is the only species growing in the wild in Nevada - so to help identify to species, my question still stands...
#2 looks very much like Lysimachia punctata, very probably with some cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) in the background. Quite ornamental! Could these be garden plants?
Las Vegas. These are wild only to the extent that the client did not plant them. Irrigation is provided in the vacinity, so up they go. Thanks for all the great input!