Queen Anne's Lace

It is that time of summer when the waysides are tangled with some of my favorite wildflowers. I am distracted by them. I slow traffic and nearly drive off the road into ditches. In my humble opinion, no formal gardens can outshine these weedy wonders.

Portrait by a Neighbor

Queen Anne's lace

Before she has her floor swept


Or her dishes done,

Any day you’ll find her


A-sunning in the sun!

It’s long after midnight


Her key’s in the lock,


And you never see her chimney smoke


Till past ten o’clock!

She digs in her garden


With a shovel and a spoon,

She weeds her lazy lettuce


By the light of the moon.

She walks up the walk


Like a woman in a dream,


She forgets she borrowed butter


And pays you back cream!

Her lawn looks like a meadow,

And if she mows the place,

She leaves the clover standing


And the Queen Anne’s lace!

~ Edna St. Vincent Millay ~

Someone Nibbish

blue-eyed chicory and Queen Anne's lace

She sweeps in her pajamas

Writes stories while in bed

Eats apple pie for breakfast

Before the household’s fed!

The sun is shining brightly,

She lingers in the house,

But when the rain is falling

She skips out for a douse!

When you stop to borrow sugar

She invites you in for tea,

Serves tasty little nibbles

Then chatters endlessly…

Smiles mildly at the roses

You brought her for the vase

Then swoons at blue-eyed chicory

And at the Queen Anne’s lace!

~ Nib of Nib's End ~