“Lost lanes of Queen Anne’s lace,
And that high-builded cloud
Moving at summer’s pace.”
(from Cut Grass by Philip Larkin)
I have developed a bit of an obsession with Queen Anne’s lace this May and June. I think this is partly because it seems to be a particularly good year for this graceful plant, and the hedgerows are positively frothing with its delicate white flowers. Also, I have been walking around the lanes close to home much more than I usually would, and I have been able to watch the first tentative leaves appear on the verges, gradually gain height, and finally thrust their flower spikes towards the sky.
Whatever the reason, the flowers have found their way into my jewellery, in the shape of these new designs, which you can find in my online shop.
I thought I’d share some of the images that set me off on this path, including a short video of the flowers, bobbing in a gentle breeze on a sunny May afternoon.
Finally, apologies to any botanists out there. I’m aware that there are many, many similar-looking plants, from cow parsley, through hemlock, to hogweed, plus some cultivated varieties. I’m afraid I tend to overlook the differences between them, and refer to them collectively as Queen Anne’s lace, which I think is a gorgeously descriptive catch-all name for these lovely wildflowers.
so very pretty
Beautiful work 👏