Needlework is an art form that results in exquisite, one of a kind creations, infused with the passion of the maker. Great reliance on machines in a fast moving world has resulted in very few enjoying activities requiring hours of focusing on making something with one’s hands. I am passionate about handmade lace and how it transforms fabric to which it is added. Often, lace is the finishing touch for a bridal gown, and other garbs for special occasions. The reason this delicate, patterned fabric is important to me, is because lace is in my name. I am Queen Anne’s lace.
Like lace on a garment, I often adorn roadsides. Superfluous you say? Necessary say I. We all need beauty in our lives, and we need to acknowledge that the most important beauty is often not seen with the eyes. Like the joy of the unseen maker of the lace on the dress of a young girl, I have hidden gifts including my powerful tap root that allows me to survive the tough conditions of long, hot summer days. As a member of the wild carrot family, I am an interesting addition to your kitchen, and am known for making great things including floral wine. Maybe you want to try battering and frying my flowers, chopping my leaves as a salad topper or using my roots in a slow cooked stew. Some herbalists suggest that Queen Anne’s lace holds excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as the ability to support digestion and uterine health. Make sure you correctly identify me as I can be confused with hemlock, yarrow, cow parsnip, bishop’s flower and fool’s parsley.
As unique as handmade lace, my flowers are a wonder to behold, and even before opening up into an airy white flower, my pod is quite amazing to see. To fully marvel at my unique patterns, float one of my blooms in your warm cup of herb tea. To hear giddy responses from kids (including your inner child), add a little food coloring to the water of the vase where my flowers are held, and watch how my lacy white caps transform into the color of the water.
I am known as the inspiration for the lacework of English royalty, and some say I am named for Queen Anne who was passionate about lace making and once pricked her finger with a needle, dropping blood on the lace, much like the reddish center of my flower. My highly structured pattern is wonderfully made with the Fibonacci ratio, also known as the Golden Ratio. Mathematicians have great fun exploring the Fibonacci sequence, and creators often utilize the ratio in art, architecture, music, and of course, lace! So many breathtaking things created by humans are rooted in patterns of the natural world found in flowers like me. Your mind may not comprehend why something is appealing to the eye or simply feels good when you experience it, yet I know the secret is in mimicking what is done in the natural world.
I invite you to get outside and see how many things you can find with captivating Fibonacci sequence patterns. Pinecones, a caterpillar, leaves, tree rings, falling water, and seashells will get you going. Soon you may find yourself on a scavenger hunt! Think of me and consider making something with your hands, and strive to focus on roadside flowers instead of the frustrating traffic. Most importantly, be still and enjoy the abundant beauty of nature. It is all around you.