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
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