Queen Anne's Lace, also known as the wild carrot, the bird's nest and the bishop's lace, is a flowering plant that can be found all over dry fields this time of year. I remember going out in the field behind Casco Bank once and picking a bouquet for Mom. She was so happy that she was almost moved to tears (not the only time I 'moved' my mother to tears, I might mention, and not for all the good reasons. But those are other stories). I later found out that my elaborately designed and beautiful flower was nothing more than a flowering weed found everywhere. No problem. To this day, it's one of my favorite plants growing wild. The way I see it, these simple plants are like opportunities we cross in our lives. Many pass them by, scoff at their relative unimportance, fail to see the connection between the acorn and the mighty oak. Others stop admire, take in and stumble upon life changing moments. Enjoy this piece of 'lace' today, a plant like no other.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's Lace, also known as the wild carrot, the bird's nest and the bishop's lace, is a flowering plant that can be found all over dry fields this time of year. I remember going out in the field behind Casco Bank once and picking a bouquet for Mom. She was so happy that she was almost moved to tears (not the only time I 'moved' my mother to tears, I might mention, and not for all the good reasons. But those are other stories). I later found out that my elaborately designed and beautiful flower was nothing more than a flowering weed found everywhere. No problem. To this day, it's one of my favorite plants growing wild. The way I see it, these simple plants are like opportunities we cross in our lives. Many pass them by, scoff at their relative unimportance, fail to see the connection between the acorn and the mighty oak. Others stop admire, take in and stumble upon life changing moments. Enjoy this piece of 'lace' today, a plant like no other.
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Beautiful. I'm sure the tears had something to do with the fact that the flowers came from you, too :-)
ReplyDeleteWild carrot is beautiful and edible and should be appreciated as such. But before eating, be certain it actually smells like carrot. There are some impostors that could do some pretty bad stuff to you if you eat them.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and funny description for this nice shot.
ReplyDeleteQueen Anne's lace is quite prolific down here in Texas too, although it populates our roadsides in spring. It's long gone by now. Of course, with our drought, most everything is long gone!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. A weed? Wonder why we were charged by our landscaper to plant 5 of these in our backyard. They effectively hide the chain link fence, shielding us from the sight of the soccer field on St. Kate's college campus. A field that formerly held a forest of trees with 30 different species of birds and urban wild life. A forest that was surreptiously cut down before the neighbors put a temporary stop to it. We lost the battle of the trees. Do you want me to tell you how I REALLY feel about the loss of the trees and animals and about the college that formerly had been a great neighbor?!
ReplyDeletei love queen anne's lace and what a beautiful post this morning to go along with it. hope you are having a fantastic weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love this flowering weed and often pick it to put with arrangements in my home.
ReplyDeleteI am another who loves queen anne's lace. It grows wild here along with golden rod. I love the grace of the flowers on the roadside floating in the breeze.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is a favorite of mine too. Although we don't see them much in South Carolina, fields in Ohio are blanketed with them.
ReplyDeleteI like "bird's nest", must be comfy there... :)
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Cezar
A touching story again.
ReplyDeleteAnd a beautiful photograph to accompany it .
Costas
It's everywhere here too. I love to see it, because it means spring has arrived again.
ReplyDeleteMany of the blooms we enjoy are classified as weeds, but Queen Anne's Lace is a joy, one that your mom appreciated as well.
ReplyDeleteKeep the stories coming...
Bises,
Genie
Evidentally everyone likes this plant but me. My worse experience with it was while we lived in the Knoxville, TN area. A bunch of us neighborhood kids took a shortcut through a field. Next day we paid for it with lots of Chigger bites. A bottle of finger nail polish later and they were smoothered but not until we spent a night or so trying not to itch. The plant is everywhere in Ohio but don't appear to be as loaded with the Chiggers. Or, maybe it is just that I don't take shortcuts through fields anymore.....I drive around the field in the car.
ReplyDeleteJeez, I just learned how to stop and smell the roses and now you want me to stop and smell the Queen Anne's Lace! :-)
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea!
Re your question: Not a "blue-light special" (I had not heard that phrase before but like it!)...I believe the truck had a problem and the police stopped to make sure, because it was carrying gas, that it didn't get hit from behind by some old codger like me who went to sleep at the wheel!
Birdman -- I have always loved this flower (weeds are in the eyes of the beholder). Your memories of handing your mom a bouquet of them is sweet.
ReplyDelete-- barbara
That's sweet! I also picked weeds and gave them to my mother, but she was not as thrilled as yours!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of it but had not seen it until now. Very pretty weed.
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly glad you stopped to take a photo of this lovely flower. Weed or not, it is quite beautiful and your photo of it is beautifully framed.
ReplyDeleteQueen Anne's Lace presses very beautifully for dried flowers. Put between the pages of an old book you don't care about, like your old Biology book on some paper towels. Then you can place it between two pieces of glass with other dried flowers and leaves and wrap the edges with copper foil and solder them together. Makes nice coasters.
ReplyDeleteWe have it all over here too and I love to see it bouncing around in the wind!
ReplyDeleteWeeds do not have to be ugly - just look at the dandelion!
ReplyDeleteAnd any mother is proud when her child gives her self-picked flowers :-)
i think they're beautiful. but i'd hate it if they overtook my pasture. :)
ReplyDeleteI always loved this flower. I could see this one everywhere in my childhood days.
ReplyDeleteCruise Pictures
I think it's beautiful! It reminds me of a big snowflake.
ReplyDeleteThank you, BM, for your explanation of "blue-light special." I do remember stores that had that kind of an arrangement but don't remember the blue-light special in K-Mart. One of our two K-Mart's is in process of closing. Which is not a good thing for the people that work there.
ReplyDeleteWell, today's post got me thinking. I used to see Queen Anne's Lace everywhere, but I can't remember seeing any this year. It must still be out there. I am probably just going other places. Hmmm. I need to spend more time in the country.
ReplyDeletePhilosophical observations Birdman, I do agree that areas like pathways and fields can definitely be enhanced by the presence of wild freesias and daises that are classed as weeds. Had laugh at the idea of you driving your Mum to tears at times growing up, well who would have thought haha!!
ReplyDeleteFunny that some consider it a weed; I've always thought of it as a wild flower. It seems to be everywhere (just saw it in Alaska) but always seems so elegant and intricate.
ReplyDeleteWe have these beauties everywhere around here too, but I have no idea of the portuguese name.
ReplyDeleteNice. I loved Queen Anne's lace growing up. Unfortunately, I don't see it down here.
ReplyDelete