10-07-2024 4:18am

Delicacy of Queen Anne's Lace Captures Allison Kelly's Photographer's Eye

Lesley Misko Editor

by Allison Kelly*

I went in search of Queen Anne’s Lace. Since childhood I have admired these majestic wildflowers that suddenly appear among the tall field grass of late summer. The intricate design of the white filigree petals makes up for its lack of bold colors.

Knowing I would find some Queen Anne’s Lace near the pasture fence, I drove my power chair up our driveway, across our gravel parking lot, and onto the grassy expanse next to the pasture. The ground is a little uneven here, but my father keeps this area mowed, so I knew there were no serious hazards like tree stumps or holes in the ground. I came upon a large flower and got the shot I wanted – a close-up from above. My power chair lets me get right up next to the wildflower.

I saw our horse, Mel, was happily munching on some grass a short distance away, and for one crazy moment, I wondered if I could get an artistic shot with the flower in the foreground and a blurry horse in the background. But I realized that would require lying on the ground for the right angle, a position my disability prevents. Even if I was agile enough, it wasn’t worth the risk of bites from ticks or chiggers.

Satisfied with the Queen Anne’s Lace close-up I’d gotten, I started to drive away from the fence. But then I spotted a pop of color among the field grass. Next to a fence post I discovered a delightful mixture of colors and texture. I had been focused on one stand-out wildflower and almost missed the cornucopia of flora right in front of me.

I wished I could have picked this delightful arrangement and put it in a basket on our kitchen table – nature’s bouquet on display. It reminded me of potpourri but without the strong scent. When I viewed the photo on my large computer screen, I realized there are so many different varieties of plants in this shot. I think I see six different types. Ferns? Clover? How many do you see? Can you identify anything other than the Queen Anne’s Lace?

Please comment or e-mail me at noteworthynaturephotos@gmail.com.

* Despite Allison's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis rending her physically limited, she has always enjoyed the outdoors. Growing up on a family Christmas tree farm – she could literally go over the river (creek) and through the woods to her grandmother’s house - instilled a love of nature in her at an early age. As an adult she’s learned that nature has its own story to tell, a story she likes to read and relate through the lens of her camera. Today she drives a scooter when taking nature photographs and turns them into note cards available at Engage Arts Studio, 1005 Gravel Pike, Schwenksville, or on-line in her shop on society6.com.

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Fiber artist Martha Ressler captured the delicate flower in a piece of quilted art that captured my eye and now hangs in my home. ~Jane