old fashioned fun with queen anne's lace

When we were kids we always picked Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus Carota), also known as Wild Carrot, (and a member of the parsley family...really?  who knew?) on our many walks.  It seemed to grow everywhere and made some of the prettiest flower bouquets. When I was in Pennsylvania with my niece this summer she came back from a walk with her mother and low and behold, she had a handful of Queen Anne's Lace!  My sister, being a school teacher, as well as "super mom", as I like to call her, had a special project in mind for the afternoon (something we also used to do as kids with our parents).  She called it a "science experiment" to spark the interest of my four year old niece and her 10 year old second cousin, and showed them how to turn the pretty white blooms into fancy colorful flowers.  


Step 1: 
Cut stems of Queen Anne's Lace.


Step 2: 
Fill a cup with water and add several drops of food coloring.  The more coloring you add, the more intense your flowers will turn.


Step 3: 
Place the flowers in the cup, cut side down, and wait 24-48 hours. The color will intensify with more time.  Checking the flowers often to see the "progress" is all part of the fun!

queen anne's lace in blue food coloring

queen anne's lace in red food coloring

Note: 

To turn flowers more than one color, use several different cups, one for each color.

Food coloring can temporarily discolor skin and may stain clothing.  Parents should assist children with this project.  Have fun!