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.

Queen Anne Has Washed Her Lace

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has washed her lace
(She chose a summer's day)
And hung it in a grassy place
To whiten, if it may.
~ Mary Leslie Newton

Until the past few years, I had never taken much notice of Queen Anne's Lace.



It grows rather profusely around the fields and parks and what's to notice about a plain white flower whose roots smell like carrots, anyway?



Plenty.




It would seem that they're not such a plain white flower after all. My blogging buddy, Linda once wrote that each Queen Anne's Lace head has a tiny wine-coloured flower near the middle of its face. That was news to me. And it was also a reminder to look more closely next time. I learned that not all of them have that little dark flower but many of them did. Thank you for the eye-opener, Linda. This one is for you, my friend.






They don't only have that deep red flower in the center, either. As the Queen Anne's Lace head begins to open up, the tiny flowers on the fringe are this lovely, delicate shade of pink. That's another thing I'd never noticed before this June.







This one has only just begun its stretch to greet summer.






Others are in the pink of the season.






As the sun lowers in the sky, the lacy aspect of the flower is more evident than ever.







Suddenly there's a fair bit of activity on the head of most of these flowers. I'm not sure what this bug is but he was quite fascinated with Queen Anne.






I think we should call this one "Love in Bloom."






The setting sun as seen through the underside of the flower.






After getting up close and personal to Queen Anne's Lace with my camera, I've come to realize that it's not such a plain white flower after all. Wouldn't you agree?

More photos coming up soon.