Where the Wild Things Grow
About a week ago, I lopped off the Queen Anne’s Lace that grew taller than me this year. Iowa’s great rains this spring and fall made for extraordinary growth in everything from field corn to flowers. But those wonderful thunderstorms we’ve had really laid the Queen Anne’s Lace low…over some other flowers doing their best to thrive an/or make a national growth record, too.
Don’t you love the lace? These delicate “weeds” populate our ditches, but I wanted some as background for my other blossoms this year. I’m thinking next season, they might fit better in the hollyhock bed behind the garage, our alley brighteners.
Right now, I’m in Arizona, where great mountain rains have made for lush growth, also.
Pin oaks prosper, tall pines float the sky, and elk galore munch their way across our yard.
My husband spotted a tiny cactus growing out of a crack in the soil. We’ll see if it survives and still holds its place in this world when we return in late December.
When we get home in a couple of weeks, I wonder what the Queen Anne’s Lace will be like…will they have sprouted again, from the six-or-so inches I left above the ground.
As with plants everywhere, we’ll see.
About the Author:
Gardener/writer Gail Kittleson has been gardening just about everywhere she and her husband have lived, including Senegal, West Africa. Her favorite thing about gardening is the survival of plants over harsh Iowa winters, the anticipation of new growth, and eating fresh salads. When she’s not gardening she’s writing memoir and women’s historical fiction novels and teaching a creative writing class. You can learn more about her at http://www.gailkittleson.com
Want to read more about Gail’s gardens? Click here to see her other garden posts.
Catherine Castle 
Hi Gail, What a pretty picture of Queen Ann’s Lace. It’s one of my favorites and was one of my mother’s also. I always think of her when I see it. It’ll be interesting to see your reports on it and the cactus.
I shall try to remember to report, Gail. Fun how certain flowers bring an individual to mind. For me it’s my Grandma Cutler, every time I see/smell a big, sprawling bush of pink roses.
Gail, what a lovely and intriguing picture of the Queen Anne’s Lace. Wildflowers are one of my favorites since they hold their own regardless of the weather. We’ve had drought conditions this year, and the wildflowers have taken center stage.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Where are you, Wendy? It’s a lot drier in AZ than in IA, but still the greens are fabulous, and the fire alert is low. Glad we came this summer instead of last. And there you are, noticing the wild flowers take over!! Thanks for stopping by.
Gail, I live on Vancouver Island in Canada where we normally have mild weather. It’s been a hot dry summer this year. Thankfully we got rain this week. 🙂 Blessings.
Do you ever cut the Queen Anne’s Lace and put it in a vase with food coloring in the water? They pick up the color and look so pretty! And the roots are edible too. They are actually a wild carrot. 🙂
I have never heard about the wild carrot connection, Pegg, but the leaves sure fit the bill! And I’d never heard about the food coloring, either – will have to give that a try, my granddaughter will love doing it! Thanks.
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