Outdoor Hour Challenge, Queen Anne’s Lace

The first time we went looking for Queen Anne’s Lace – I didn’t know what it was, where to find it, or why.  That is why I am glad for the Outdoor Hour Challenge (OHC) .  Even though we enjoy nature study as homeschoolers, we are often busy looking at the extra ordinary, the unfamiliar and the rare.  We found out that Queen Anne’s Lace was a common roadside weed.  After researching images of the plant – we kept our eyes open in our journeys.  Now that we are familiar – we see it often alongside the roads. 

Here in Oregon, we have an eager crew that comes alongside and cuts down brush on the roadways. One needs to be quick to spot this little plant.  We have enjoyed year round study for Queen Anne’s Lace – but have never caught the little gal in the Spring.  I wanted to pay particular attention to the leaves so that we might be able to spot it sprouting.  It is interesting to note that it is of the Wild Carrot family.  The leaves look like carrot tops.

We were in Newport when we happened upon these flowers earlier in September.  Since we had our assignment in the OHC Newsletter, we knew what to keep our eyes open for.

We were showing hubby the flower and explaining our studies, when I casually asked the boys if they remember where the name and plant came from.  I’m not sure why I was surprised at what came next. Both boys started interrupting each other as they eagerly told dad the story of how Queen Anne grew it in her garden as a treasured flower, and that it was hard to grow in England.  When it came to the Americas, it flourished, becoming a common weed along roadsides. They went on to talk about the prick of blood in the middle of the flower.  We’ve marveled at God’s Creation many times and this plant in particular.  To have so many parts to the flower, and always, the exact center is red. Amazing.

Yep, Looking for our items for the Outdoor Hour Challenge is always a sacrifice.

Below – while we were picking apples yesterday, there was a patch of Queen Anne’s Lace next to the Apple Trees.  The Apple tree is in a photo from pre 1930 as a small plant.  What’s interesting, is that the place we were picking apples was once the dirt/gravel original Highway 101 trail.  The Queen Anne’s lace made a sort of hedge right along side the old trail.  Very Cool Indeed.  This fall – we are also looking for insects, and were challenged to find an insect on the Queen Anne’s Lace.  Well – Here ya go!

I thought Ya’ll would like to see what else we found while on our trip yesterday – A grasshopper stuck in a leaf It appeared to be uh, deceased, makes me wonder how it died. Full tummy?

With the lighting I couldn’t get a good shot of the face – but it was funny. Poor thing.

Take a moment this week to join us  looking for Queen Anne’s Lace. Pay attention to the leaves and roots, and be challenged in a year long study to view the seeds this winter, and the growth in summer.