Queen Anne's Lace is among one of the more beautiful weeds/wild flowers which pop up in fields, unmanacured lots and along roadsides. Also known as Wild Carrot, Birds Nest and Bishop's Lace. It is noted for its umbrella shape and the tiny, dainty white flowers which are clustered in a manor that resembles a lace pattern. As with most weeds they are actually a valued commodity in our ecosystem. It provides homes and nutrition for birds and insects and has nutritional* and medicinal* properties for humans. (**Be sure you study its uses carefully because the leaves may cause a rash in some people. ***There are also highly poison and deadly look alikes. Queen Anne's lace has a hairy stem - the poisonous look alikes do not.) Queen Anne's Lace looks similar to Baby's Breath making it a beautiful wild accent to live flower arrangements, or as I enjoy using it ~ in pressed arrangements.

OTHER COMMON NAMES
**The most common name of this flowery weed is Queen Anne's Lace, named for either: Queen Anne married to King James of Scotland (or) Queen Anne daughter of King William and Queen Mary. The tale goes that Queen Anne
was an avid and expert maker of lace. Her friends challenged her to make lace as beautiful as a flower.
While taking the challenge she poked ther finger and it bled onto the lace.
The dark red dot at the ceneter of this lace like flower symbolizes her blood.
~~~~~~~~~~
**Queen Anne's Lace is an ancestor of and has charedtoristics of the carrot plant ~ hence it is also called Wild Carrot.
**As Queen Anne's Lace dries it folds upward and forms a bird's nest shape where it's seeds are stored until they eventually are carried or fly away with the wind ~ giving it another nick name Bird's Nest.
**Bishop's Lace ~ The story behind this name - not so easily assertained! I found a good explanation
a while back but have not been able to find it or any other again.
If you have a good Bishop's Lace anecdote e-mail me. I'd love to hear it!
jelani@mountainfables.com

Caterpillar on Queen Anne's Lace  

Pressed Queen Anne's "Antique" Lace Flowers.
When pressed and untreated the flowers take on a
beautiful antique lace look.