sunset #45 and queen anne’s lace

Aug 3, 2023

First, let me tell you how excited I am to have all the split units working properly. WE HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. FOR REAL! No bill yet — and I’m expecting it to be big — but at least it’s not a total replacement… yet.

An invasive species detected!

On our daily walk, I noticed Queen Anne’s Lace growing across the road from me. It’s otherwise known as a wild carrot, but has totally different properties than it’s look alike — hemlock.

Queen Anne’s lace is soothing for the digestive tract, can be used as a diuretic, and it’s also good for bladder and kidney issues. In addition, it can support and cleanse the liver. Hemlock, on the other hand, contains toxic alkaloids that can be fatal even in small amounts — affecting nerve impulse transmissions until you die of respiratory failure. 😯

Queen Anne’s lace has fine hairs all the way up the stem. Poison hemlock has a smooth stem with purple blotches.

HOWEVER… the University of Minnesota says that touching Queen Anne’s lace may cause phytophotodermatitis (red skin and blisters that can last weeks to months) where sap touches the skin that’s exposed to sunlight. It also says you should report it?? Obviously, this ain’t Minnesota. 😉

We made bouquets out of it when we were kids.

And here’s tonight’s gorgeous sunset — #45 of 52.