Do you know why there's always a red spot in the middle of Queen Anne's Lace? [Click to enlarge]
Ann got it right: The flower is named after Queen Anne of Denmark (1574-1619), consort of James I of England. Anne was an avid and accomplished lace maker, and the red spot in the middle was said to be a drop of her blood from a needle prick, although I assume it's really there to attract pollinating insects. And James I had something named after him too -- the King James Version of the Bible.
Queen Anne pricked her finger and a drop of blood fell on the lace.
Posted by: Ann | July 08, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Right!
Posted by: gail | July 08, 2007 at 09:37 PM
Excellent photo.
I never knew the explanation about the pricking of a finger and a drop of blood on the lace, but it makes perfect sense now that I hear it, adding to the charm of this beautiful and beautifully named flower.
Many years ago, I wrote a song called Queen Anne's Lace. Here is a link to the lyric: http://www.mainewriting.com/lace.html
Posted by: John Governale | July 09, 2007 at 08:07 AM
Is there anyone out there who has never put Queen Anne's lace in a vase of water to which you have added a few drops of food coloring?
Posted by: Ann | July 09, 2007 at 08:43 AM
Me?
Posted by: gail | July 09, 2007 at 08:53 AM
I can hardly believe you missed that part of childhood. Didn't they have Queen Anne's lace in Cincinnati? Try it now and put it in your repertoire for impressing future grandchildren
Posted by: Ann | July 09, 2007 at 09:41 AM
We did have Queen Anne's Lace in Cincinnati, but my parents were so urbanized they were intimidated by grass.
Posted by: gail | July 09, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Queen Anne's Lace is part of the Parsley family and is also known as the wild carrot. If you crush the root in your fingers you can smell the "carroty" aroma.
The URL provided has some interesting herbal tidbits about Queen Anne's Lace
Posted by: J | July 09, 2007 at 11:39 AM