Bluebells: humility, constancy & kindness humility: the quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance. constancy: the quality of being faithful and dependable kindness: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Hyacinthoides non-scripta is a perennial plant, growing wild in Atlantic areas from north-western Spain to the British Isles though also frequently cultivated as a garden plant. Almost half of the worlds bluebell population grows in the British isles. In late spring, bluebells produce a long slim stem of 5–12 tubular, sweet-scented violet–blue flowers. The colours range from pale lilac to brilliant blue and all shades in between. There are white bluebells too, lacking the pigment that colours the flower, they are quite a rare occurrence. Bluebells are a protected species in the UK under the Wildlife and countryside Act. They are also frequently voted as the nations favourite flower and the botanical society logo even features a bluebell. Bluebells are often called fairy flower, fairy thimbles, wood bells or bell bottles. In Scotland we sometimes call them harebells which i read is because legend tells that witches used to turn themselves into hares and hide amongst them. Love that! Life is so fleeting. Days pass by without a passing glance, precious moments slip away, never to return. Thats quite a startling thought right? Im very aware that i let days pass into months without making progress, I know im doing it and yet often feel unable to change. In fact it terrifies me so much that i dont even want to think about it. Its so easy to put life off, to delay action for another time; dreams always in the far off elusive future. This is a sad waste of the present. The future is always coming but we are also always in the present. That's not a choice. As always, nature presents the effect of my lack of now-ness to me in a profound way that I can both understand and learn from. The past few weeks i have admired the bright orange blooms of the Berberis plant and i kept thinking i should take a photo but never did. The orange hues have now muted to a pale yellow and the striking colour I was so drawn to is no more! Time, fellow humans is of the essence. That doesn't mean that we need to be busy and panicking about a ticking clock, simply that we really ought to try to make the most of the moments gifted to us. Take photos, seize opportunities, be fully present. I've said it before and i'll repeat it: nothing can be at its peak all the time. Not plants, not animals, not people. It takes up too much energy and its not even necessary. Maybe that's just me trying to justify why i haven't figured any of my life out yet. I really haven't. Sometimes i feel about 112 years old and other times i feel like child; sometimes i'm quite proud of my achievements and other times i feel like everything i've ever done is totally insignificant. I read this article months ago, if you need to feel okay with where you are in life, please read it. It made me feel a lot less alone in my lost-ness. Anyways, back to flowers. Bluebells are having their moment, their arrival heralds the sunny seasons to come.The daffodils have drooped their happy yellow heads and passed the leafy torch to the summer blooms. They had their time and like all good friends, they are happy to allow others the same opportunity. I like to imagine that all flowers are friends and that they whisper the secrets of the mystical flower world to each other. And probably have a good laugh at us ridiculous humans too. I think that bluebells would be the flower with only kind things to say, uttering words of encouragement from their shaded woodland empire. My baby sister Laura is a human bluebell, she is all goodness. Said, not so baby anymore, sister came back from her Duke of Edinburgh hike telling tales of bluebells as far as the eye could see in rapturous awe. And she was not exaggerating, oceans of indigo bluebells have set up camp in the woodlands and hedgerows all over the place. Its truly magical to witness! Bluebell woods is the well-known term for this beautiful sight and here in the UK, we are blessed with the greatest densities in the world in fact. I keep spotting splashes of purple every where i turn these days and i cannot help but stop to admire the tendrils of curly fairy bells. So very pretty. Weeks ago, i spotted a little purple cluster which looked a bit like grape hyacinth but when i examined closer i discovered that it was actually bluebells. Before the little bells drop, they are gathered in a totally different way to the end result. How silly of me to assume that the flowers were fully formed straight away. I find it quite uplifting and inspiring to see the difference a few short weeks can make; from tiny shoots to vast violet armies all within the same month. There's hope for us all.
Honestly, some days are just long and difficult and i want them to end. My days are not difficult, i am difficult and i forget how to not be that way. But having compassion and kindness for myself is a huge lesson i need to learn. Again and again and again. I'd rather be kind to everyone and anyone else. All it takes sometimes is a simple little thing to lift yourself into a more positive place. Collecting a few wild flowers and arranging them is very helpful for me as is burying myself in the comforting familiarity of Harry Potter books. I'm a firm believer in magic of all kinds and allowing myself to be transported, for a while, to a world of wizards and spells is wonderful. Bluebells too, have often been associated with the realm of fairies; folklore tells of them being used as bells to call fairies to a meeting. It's very easy to imagine tiny sparkling little beings dancing under a canopy of violet bells, wings fluttering in the gentle summer breeze. How enchanting. I love stories of magic and wonder. Can i be a fairy please, i'm a pretty rubbish human. Bluebells are steeped in ancient wisdom; year after year for centuries they have carpeted Earths forest floors in the most lovely way. There's the constancy. I think the gentle unassuming nature in which they grow shows humility; the blooms are not extravagant and they often grow under hedges and deep in the woods, not out in the open. Bluebells are content in their quiet beauty and feel no need to flaunt it. I do believe that all flowers store kindness in their delicate stems and when they bloom they make so many of us happy. They provide pollen for the bees to keep our earth growing and living. Flowers are far more than just pretty petals. Lets all continue to enjoy the earths simple gifts. I for one am so incredibly grateful for their presence, nothing man made will ever be able to bring me the joy that flowers gift me with. Go, little earthling, frolic in the bluebell woods before they disappear; be a happy little fairy in your very own purple hued Utopia.
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LittlebirdJenna. Free spirit, flower enthusiast, seeker of truths. Archives
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