Wild Carrot

When Nature Calls Earl Plato

“Wild carrot!” Norma Benner exclaimed. Eight of us Fort Erie seniors were walking the lovely treed trails north of the Butterfly Conservatory on a hot August day. There on the edge of the trail was a stand of Queen Anne’s Lace also known as “ wild carrot”. The next day my wife and I were driving to Welland on the 3rd Concession. On our right was an entire field filled with Queen Anne’s Lace. Back in Ridgeway the day before we had seen a similar sight - a field completely filled with “wild carrots.” Yes, this biennial is the ancestor of our garden carrot. As kids we pulled the long tap root, brushed off the accompanying dirt, and nibbled away. This lacy leafed plant is flat-topped with clusters of tiny cream-white flowers. The late Bert Miller, Fort Erie naturalist, would take the bird’s nest likeness formation at the top of each plant and have us shake the head on a piece of leather he carried.
Tiny spiders, aphids, spittle bugs and other tiny insects often would emerge. It was one of Bert’s teaching points. Here is an ode to that memorable man.
Ode to Bert Miller
In nature you do excel
With you in charge things seem to jell.
I never knew that weeds had beauty.
To pull them up was my only duty.
From Queen Anne’s Lace to the mighty Mullein,
Wild flowers and such merely left me sullen.’
From Shades of Night to the great Bull Thistle,
Mr. Miller made it as clear as a whistle.

There’s the Gold Thread and the Devil’s Paint Brush,
The delicate Orchids - please do not crush!
The Wild Rose and the Sensitive Fern,
The Agronomy! - such a name gives one concern.\
Even to detect a bush of Poison Ivy.
Wild berries, buttercups and also the daisy,
And names of plants that would send one crazy.

Mr. Miller reminded us of all this
As we thoughtfully separated - nothing amiss.
Once again, Mr. Miller, our thanks to you
For your kindness in showing us something new
Of God’s wonder and handiwork all round,
More of God’s mystery that does abound.

A portion of the poem by Ruth Saunders