I've long loved this wildflower, with its legend of a queen pricking her finger, her drop of blood forever at the center of the pinwheel of tiny white florets. It has a nice light scent and is pretty in a vase.
Thanks to my recent penchant for carrying my camera on my walks to help in more careful observations, I have seen another beautiful stage in the life of this flower: its setting seed. As the flower ages, it begins to curl in on itself, finally forming a round basket of little stems and bracts, an elegant package. The more mature seeds, fringed by delicate hairs, turn a reddish color, singing out from the greens of the basket. There is such variety and ingenuity in the world of plants.
beautiful little progression here, you just need two more to complete it - one pre-flower (next year) and the other when it dries out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Altoon--I have a meadow full of Queen Anne's Lace, and have never noticed how they are changing as the summer moves along.
ReplyDeleteOnce again your eye and sharing is a blessing in my day. I had forgotten about the prick of the finger and I knew they curled, but hadn't seen the purple seeds. Nice, Altoon!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that you all enjoyed seeing the development of the Queen Anne's lace. Maybe I'll get a shot of the dried seed head; I read that it later separates from the stem and rolls about like a tumbleweed.
ReplyDeleteA lovelty post Altoon... complete with legend. Theres a whole world within a world to take delight in. Thanks also for thoughtful comments...much appreciated!
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