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| A fairy door! |
Almost immediately, I saw a fairy door in one of the trees.
Some were firmly closed...others were just slightly ajar.
This one has a lovely little pathway leading up to the doorstep...
while this one was very well hidden.
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| The lily of the valley fairy by Cicely Mary Barker |
I know there was magic about in the woods today. For one thing, I could feel it in the air! However, the thing which clinched it for me, and which made me very happy, was brought to me by the Lily-of-the-Valley Fairy because I found another small patch of Lily-of-the-Valley flowers - smaller than the first ones which I found a few weeks ago - but it looks healthy! They are some way off flowering, but I have hopes.
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| Borrowed image |
I know that to so many of you Lily of the Valley are invasive, a nuisance - but to me they are a very welcome reminder of my mother, I also happen to love those sweet little bells and their fragrance.
I went into the wood to discover my inner child - I had a lot of simple fun - the fairies of the wood gave me the gift of the one flower which really matters to me.
I dare you to give it a go!
Hello Elaine:
ReplyDeleteWe are so delighted that you had such fun this morning on your excursion into the woods. It is not always easy as an adult to view things as though through the eyes of a child, but so rewarding when, on occasion, it is possible.
Lily-of-the-valley, to give it its lovely sounding common English name, is surely one of the great joys of this time of year. Its perfume is, we think, exquisite.
Hello Jane and Lance, I always enjoy walking in our little woodland with my little entourage of cats, dog and hen. You are quite right, yesterday was fun. It was such a bonus to find another small patch of Lily-of-the-valley, after so many years of trying to get them established!
DeleteI give your imagination first place for seeing that fairy door. As you noted, that's why they gave you the lilies-of-the-valley. I'm still smiling.
ReplyDeleteHello Joanne, On previous occasions when I have noticed the fairy door I have simply thought "that tree has a problem, must keep an eye on it"... yesterday I saw that it is really a fairy door! That's when the magic began!
DeleteWhat a delightful post. Love the fairy doors and lily-of-the-valley can invade my backyard anytime.
ReplyDeleteHello Janet, I'm glad you enjoyed it too. I love everything about lily-of-the-valley and after all my struggles to get it established it does feel as though a little fairy magic has made the difference this time!
DeleteOh Elaine, English fairies are so much posher than Canadian ones. The doors look custom made...who makes them? Is there an elf or fairy workshop in Owl Wood? A visit from the Lily of the valley fairy too! A truly magical day.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Hello Jane, Your Canadian doors are probably designed to keep wolves, bears and raccoons out, something which is not necessary here. The legend is that a male fairy carpenter works quietly under the far hawthorne hedge, crafting those lovely little doors. I'll let you know if I am ever able to see him. Thank you for your lovely post, I really enjoyed the fun.
DeleteHello Elaine...I love your story and the fairy doors. I must look for one myself. Surely, with my Scottish ancestry, I can find at least one at the farm. Yes, I know I live in Texas...but we boost we are so big you can find anything here. I'll keep you posted. I can understand why you love lily-of-the-valley. It is so delicate looking.
ReplyDeleteHello Meggie, That would be great fun, I'm sure there must be a whole colony of them if you know where to look! Those little fairy doors do look suspiciously like the one in my kitchen - well, all except one.. Both little patches of lily-of-the-valley now have little protective cages around them, cross your fingers!
DeleteReminds me of the song we used to sing-"White coral bells, upon a slender stalk, lillies of the valley deck my garden walk...". Love the fairy doors!
ReplyDeleteHello Jan, The song is lovely, it's new to me so I'll add it to my file on lily-of-the-valley. It's always nice to add to my knowledge. Aren't those little doors cute!
DeleteI'm so glad to hear the lily-of-the valley is growing. The fairy doors are absolutely magical! I can't wait until Harry finds one of them on a walk, I'll bet he will be enchanted.
ReplyDeleteHello Ms Sparrow, Harry's 4th birthday is coming up at the end of next week. Weather permitting I am hoping to take him into the woods for a picnic...I wonder whether there will be any magic in the air on that day! I shall have a camera to hand, of course.
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