For just a few weeks every spring, across the pond in England and under the newly forming woodland canopy, one of the most enchanting flowers begins to bloom. The bluebell is known by many names but those who know it as the "fairy flower" might be the most prepared to withstand its strong, sweetly scented allure. According to British folklore, a blooming bluebell carpet on the woodland floor is a mystical place where fairies live. The legends hold that fairies hang their spells on the flowers to dry, and disturbing them would unleash the magic. In earlier times, children were warned that picking bluebells would cause them to be spirited away. Even adults could fall victim to the flower, being doomed to wander the woods and never escape. And heaven forbid you ever happen to hear the fairies ring the bluebells for their gatherings—it means your death is imminent, a belief that inspired another name for bluebells: "dead men"s bells."
Bluebells in Hertfordshire, England
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
A cutting-edge art gallery opens in Paris
-
Ready for takeoff
-
Make your list and check it twice
-
Aura River in Turku, Finland
-
Black History Month
-
It’s Giving Tuesday
-
Get on your bike and ride
-
Russell lupines, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
-
Kelp buddies
-
Tree of many colors
-
It’s Draw a Bird Day
-
In the belly of Fat Bear Week
-
Sleep tight, little hedgehog
-
Eastern grey kangaroos in Australia’s Kosciuszko National Park
-
Who left the tub running?
-
World Whale Day
-
Sanxiantai Dragon Bridge in Taitung, Taiwan
-
The Wall for Peace
-
Pretty in pink, and purple, and red…
-
Windmills in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands
-
Brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
-
It s International Jazz Day
-
European Day of Parks
-
Gauchos showcase Argentina’s independent spirit
-
Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
-
Bringing together history and technology
-
Poppies in bloom
-
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
-
There once was a lighthouse from...
-
High trekking season in Upper Mustang