One of the prettiest weeds in our area (IMHO) is Queen Anne’s lace, or wild carrot, as it is commonly known. It is considered an invasive species, a threat to recovering grasslands after the soil has been broken for agriculture. It is tenacious in clay soils.
The flowers are named for the lace that was prominent in fine clothing in the days of Queen Anne of Britain, or perhaps of her grandmother (Anne of Denmark). In the center of the flower cluster is a red spot that is meant to represent a drop of blood from a pricked finger of the lace maker.
Even if it is invasive, I think it is beautiful among the other flowering weeds growing wild beside the local beach.
If you handle the leaves of the plant, you risk irritation of the skin when it is subsequently exposed to sunlight. If you have sensitive skin, best to leave this plant alone.
Nature’s garden is not geometric, but that is one of the things I love about it.
By the way, the bitter wild carrot root, in spite of smelling like carrot, is not meant to be eaten. In a young plant it may still taste all right (although not worth the trouble) but it soon gets woody and unpleasant to eat. Also, eating it is not advised since it can easily be mistaken for poison hemlock and other toxic plants.
The flower looks like Queen Anne’s lace,
Its roots smell like a carrot,
It also looks like poison plants,
Be careful to compare it.
Don’t rush to touch its pretty leaves,
Your skin may get a blister,
With phyto-photo-dermatitis,
Sun will put an itch there.
So be content to look at it,
Admire it from afar,
And tell it from a distance,
“What a dainty flower you are!”
August 14, 2019 at 2:53 pm
It is pretty!
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August 14, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Yes, I’ve always liked it, even when I didn’t know much about it.
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August 14, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Sie wächst sehr üppig in meinem Wildblumenbeet. Ich liebe sie. Ist jetzt verblüht.
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August 14, 2019 at 5:22 pm
So nice to hear this! It’s worldwide then!
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August 14, 2019 at 11:03 pm
❤🌻🦋😊
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August 14, 2019 at 3:01 pm
I always love a pretty weed. Thanks for the introduction, Anneli!
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August 14, 2019 at 5:23 pm
I’ve always liked it, but I didn’t know about the possible skin reaction.
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August 14, 2019 at 3:15 pm
It truly is a beautiful and delicate flower.
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August 14, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Delicate “looking” but I think it’s quite tough. Like Joni Mitchell’s Scarlett – cast iron and frail.
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August 14, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Beautiful, but a pain in the butt,
like many a Lady I knew in my time 🙂
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August 14, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Haha! I’m afraid to comment further. 😉
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August 14, 2019 at 5:14 pm
I like this! We have a lot of Queen Anne’s Lace where we live. I didn’t know about the red dot in the center – that’s interesting! I think it’s very pretty, too 🙂
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August 14, 2019 at 5:24 pm
To be honest, I only learned about the red dot today!
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August 14, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Haha! Well it’s a good piece of knowledge – I may use that tomorrow, with your permission 😉
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August 14, 2019 at 8:46 pm
Sure. Why not?
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August 14, 2019 at 6:59 pm
I hope to write poetry about Queen Anne’s Lace soon…Invasive, you say?
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August 14, 2019 at 8:47 pm
I was surprised that it’s considered invasive. I guess that’s just someone’s opinion. I didn’t think it was, but ….
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August 15, 2019 at 9:13 am
I didn’t think so, either!
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August 14, 2019 at 6:59 pm
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
IN PROSE, THEY BEAT ME TO IT!
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August 14, 2019 at 9:40 pm
I’ve always thought it to be quite attractive, and very welcome to see this time of the summer.
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August 15, 2019 at 8:17 am
Me too! I was surprised about it being called invasive. Maybe it is tough, but so are blackberries. Doesn’t mean we have to eradicate them all.
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August 14, 2019 at 10:48 pm
I have always thought that they’re so pretty. 🙂
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August 15, 2019 at 8:18 am
I do too. They add a “feminine touch” to the landscape.
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August 15, 2019 at 2:44 am
I never looked at them close enough to see the red dot in the centre of the flower. They are growing all over here. Thanks for the nice pictures and the lovely poem.
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August 15, 2019 at 8:20 am
To be honest, I had never noticed the dot either, but I do like the flowers. I didn’t know they grew over your way too. I’m happy that you like my poetic efforts. 😉
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August 15, 2019 at 7:53 am
Never heard of that flower, but it looks beautiful.
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August 15, 2019 at 8:21 am
Well, I’m happy to have introduced you to something new, Pit.
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August 16, 2019 at 7:15 am
One of my favourite wildflowers. Nice shots!
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August 16, 2019 at 8:26 am
Thanks, Belinda. I can’t get the clear focus you get on your Q A’s lace, but just snapping pics around the beach, it’s a pretty flower. Your recent post made me more aware of this flower.
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August 16, 2019 at 9:30 am
It’s often overlooked yet it’s so attractive. Nice to hear Anneli.
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August 16, 2019 at 7:14 pm
I love this wild flower. It is so pretty and hearty.
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August 16, 2019 at 7:18 pm
It adds just the right touch of lacy delicacy to the rest of the weeds and gives them a magic lift.
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August 16, 2019 at 7:24 pm
It really does! 🙂
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August 18, 2019 at 1:04 pm
This was my mother in law’s favourite flower, I do pick them at the stem, enjoy their lovely symmetry and remember my beautiful mother-in-law. Enjoy your photography and nature info very much. Smiles back to you.
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August 18, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Tnx, Marsha. Hope to see you one of these days soon.
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