Revisitng the Queen

A few weeks back, I did a post about Queen Anne's Lace. It was earlier in the summer and the lovely blossoms were just emerging. Now, most have closed up shop for the season. Their dried out flower heads will remain through winter, catching frost and snow and I'm sure I'll snap a few of those images in the months to come. But for now, I'd just like to show a few photos of this lovely, simple flower during its last weeks of summer.



Early in July, the bloom is fresh and bright white. A tiny red bug can be seen exploring the ribs of the flower, seen from behind.





It's like a perfect little parasol, offering shelter from the sun.





Each evening, I got into the habit of snapping photos of the lacy blooms.





They're often seen sharing space with wild chicory - another favourite of mine.





This is how they appear when they're first unfolding.





But as the season progresses, some of them begin to close up shop. Their seeds deepen in colour to a lovely shade of pink.





You can see the tiny spikes which surround each of them. I suppose they eventually fall off and scatter, and they need to cling to something to take hold again for next year's growth.





Sunset, during one of the earlier summer nights. I used my flash to illuminate this one and was surprised to see an insect clinging to the top of one of the stems.





Side by side, Queen Anne's Lace and the closed buds of the Wild Chicory, make proud silhouettes against the colourful evening sky.

Thanks for revisiting the queen with me. Bows and curtsies are not required.