There is a place
For Queen Anne’s Lace
In nature’s open garden.
*
“But not in mine!”
Gardeners decline
And – oh, their hearts they harden.
Tis true, Lace will
Self-seed — and still
I love her gentle beauty
*
But gardeners think
That in one blink
She’ll multiply their duty.
I spied the Lace
Her pretty face
Not showing in the open
*
She hid herself
In clever stealth
With mint in our herb garden.
She stayed alive
Two years survived
Unseen by Garden Minder
*
Till recent days
He cast his gaze
And was quite shocked to find her.
Her stem he gripped
He pulled and ripped
And stared at her in horror
*
And thought he had
Removed it all
For he’s a true weed warrior.
I found her in
The compost bin
— This tale is not fallacious —
*
No-one about,
I pulled her out
Aggrieved that one so gracious
Should be thrown down
With newly-mown
Grass, in a heap of greenery
*
I picked her up
And filled a cup
Of water to redeem her.
And here’s the grace:
She’s fine, our Lace
She flowers now at leisure
*
Indeed, she blooms
Inside our rooms
For Gardener’s “viewing pleasure”.
If he’s aware
– Our Gardener Dear –
That Lace is what is blooming
*
He has said nought
Of what he thought
And there has been no fuming
*
But hold your glee
Don’t “hooray” me
For trouble’s yet a-foot
*
The Lacy weed
Has done the deed
And left behind a root
Though Gardener Dear
Does not know there
Is still a small plant thriving
*
In his herb bed
The weed so dread
Is quietly surviving.
*
Dedicated to people who love wildflowers.
–AND with a smiling apology to my favorite gardener–
There’s more information on the wild carrot AKA Queen Anne’s Lace, at:
http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=169
Cynthia Reyes 
she is majestic!
It abounded (is that a word?) at a wedding I attended a couple of weeks ago. Delicate stuff!
Aha! She’s not a mere weed! Thanks for telling me that, Eric.
If abounded isn’t a word, it should be. Abundantly yours,
Cynthia..
Splendid, splendid, splendid. A lovely tale of survival. She deserves her place inside and out. 🙂
Indeed she does. You have such good taste, Gallivanta!
Well, her Royal Lacy-ness and I share a name, so I must bow before her and offer my support in her noble cause of resilience.
Haha… thanks for the laugh. Her noble cause of resilience indeed.
Splendide et d’une grande pureté. Sans doute aussi magnifique en bouquets…
Merci beaucoup, Christiane. Quelle bonne idée! Je vais l’essayer bientôt.
(Thanks, Christiane. What a good idea! I’ll try it soon.)
Trying to invite her to stay in mine! 🙂
She grows in poor soils in full sun. Jamaicans have a saying “Want it want it can’t get it, and get it, get it, don’t want it”.
Here we are, weeding it out, while other gardeners want it to grow in their gardens. That’s gardening for you.
Delightful!
Thanks, Gail — she of the beautiful garden.
What a witty enjoyable write up!! I also am not a huge fan of the lace, but I pick it for my children and we put them in a glass with a few drops of food coloring and the lace turns the color of the food coloring. After a day or two we will put them all together in a vase in their pretty colors!!! I know I have pictures somewhere, I will have to find them or cut some this week and make a vase for my blog.
Please do. That sounds both pretty and fun!
Oh I love this post! This is just like me and my husband except he not only pulls ‘weeds’ out but also strims them, mows them and I’ve even caught him using weed killer! Shocking! I use all sorts of stratagems to protect certain plants I want to keep.
Haha… makes for an interesting life, I bet. Glad you have found defensive strategies, Clare.
My book, Beloved Gardens, is about the passions, emotions and cardinal sins evoked by gardening. (Yes, it didn’t stop with Adam and Eve.)
But maybe I should have added a chapter on defensive strategies for co-gardeners!
I love Queen Anne’s Lace, but cannot get it to grow here. Bishop’s Flower is similar, but the flowers are Texas big.
Gee, when you consider that they grow in the poorest of soils… but maybe that’s the problem. Your soil may be too healthy?
Great poem, Cynthia. I think this is the first flower which really intrigued me as a child. It is a very prolific ‘weed’ in these parts. Currently. our local library has a long street-side bed which incorporates it with russian sage and ornamental grasses to excellent effect. It looks great!
I can imagine that picture. The queen, with russian sage and ornamental grasses must look splendid, Jim. In the countryside where we lived, she often grew alongside the blue wild chicory, and wild black-eyed Susan (the flower, not a person…)
I love Queen’s Anne’s Lace and your delightful ode to the lesser, evil weed family. It’s funny how we categorize plants and people into good and bad. Thankfully, this post leaves no doubt of the true merits of poets, play, Queen’s Lace and weeds everywhere.
Thanks for the lovely romp Cynthia! 🙂
You are always welcome, Brad. And I’m always glad to read your replies. We humans do tend to stereotype things and people we don’t understand. Hey: weeds are people too….
LOL, To weeds!
I love how vividly your photographs captured the queen’s evolution.
Thank you, Ann. But don’t tell anyone I took those pictures. I have a reputation (as a lousy photo-taker) to protect.
‘Mums’ the word 🙂
The following comes from Lydia, the gracious lady who gave me a book on floral arranging.
“If you pick the heads when they’re full but still fresh, and place them face-down on a cardboard lid or cookie sheet, they will dry flat and make very pretty natural Christmas tree decorations–you can just rest them among the branches.”
Great idea, eh?
Rescuing the imperilled flower heartlessly thrown into the horror of the compost heap proves your compassion for the under dog (or flower). This is a quality I admire in you. Keep an eye on the evil gardener in case he strikes again!
Georgeina: Yes, I’ll just have to keep an eye on my beloved evil gardener….
A weed by any other name would look as sweet! (Or something like that…) 😉
Yes, Lori. “Or something like that…”
Just so you know, I believe I saw Queen Anne’s lace (or a close relative) in many of the formal plantings in Paris and Ile de France. Used carefully, it is a lovely plant in a wildflower bed. And a favorite of pollinating insects, too!
Excellent news! Thank you, Lori.
Wildflowers don’t give up that easily, especially in a luscious, compost filled garden bed. She’ll be back.
This was a neat post, Cynthia. We say at the extension office that a weed is any plant that is out of place. I planted some sumac because I love it but it’s a “bad” weed in your native pastures.. Have all is well with you and your husband!!!
Thanks, Levi. Are you getting ready for your next trip, or relaxing for a bit now?
Good morning Cynthia. 😀 Yesterday I played catch up on paperwork. I’m relaxing today and then start preparing around here to leave again. I’m glad I have plenty of energy or I would be in trouble lol. Have a great day my Friend!!!
You too, Levi!
Really good post. I am reblogging you on idealisticrebel. Hugs, Barbara
Beautiful photos, and as a wildflower lover, thank you!
You are welcome. And I thank you for your reply.