Blue Bounty
by Connie Handscomb
Title
Blue Bounty
Artist
Connie Handscomb
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Fine Art
Description
Oh! roses and lilies are fair to see;
But the wild bluebell is the flower for me.
~ Louisa Anne Meredith [botanical illustrator]
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Bluebells
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Wild Hyacinth; fairy flower)
Campanula rotundifolia (Bluebell ; Harebell; Witches Thimble; Tussock Bluebell)
Family : Campanulaceae (Bellflower)
Blue : the colour of healing, peace and joy . There are about 70 genera and 2,000 species of these blue, lavender, white or even pink wildflowers that grow singly, or in clusters. They can be tall, or clustered; broad leafed, egg or heart shaped. They can be found through most of the high western mountains, in eastern Canada and south in the US to North Carolina, throughout Eurasia, and Europe. It blooms June through to September.
The bluebell is is one of Britain's favorite wildflowers. It was voted Britain's favourite wildflowers in a public vote (2002). It was also a favorite of famous writers, poets, and artists. Homer also described them, as did Keats and Tennyson, and many others. These flowers which love the woodlands can also be found in the 16th century Unicorn Tapestries. On Shakespeare's birthday (23 April), it is a tradition to wear a bluebell in one's lapel (reference to the harebell in Shakespeare's play Cymbeline).
One species of bellflower was once a popular vegetable, grown for its spinach-like leaves, and the radish-like roots. The character, Rapunzel, makes reference to this in the Brothers Grimm fairytale (her name originated from this plant).
This pretty, dainty flower had a very practical purpose a long time ago: its roots were used to make glue for medieval arrows, and as a domestic starch. The fresh bulb is poisonous, but dried and powdered, it is used medicinally for female ailments and as a diuretic.
It is very resilient; still, as a wildflower (and national treasure), a nationwide law in 1981 made it a criminal offence to dig up the wild bluebell. Folklore, too, adds a warning about disturbing them: if you walk through a carpet of bluebells, you will disturb the spells the fairies have hung on the bluebell flowers; this could bring you bad luck. Harebell (the clump forming bluebells) have an association with witches, who were believed to transform themselves into hares.
Sources:
Culpeper's Color Herbal [Ed. D. Potterton]
Clay Perry's Fantastic Flowers [Text M. Perry]
The Romantic Language Of Flowers [Davies; Saunders]
Field Guide To Wildflowers [Nat. Audubon Society - N. America;R.Spellenberg]
Plants & Flowers [Simon & Schuster's Complete Guide; Ed. F. Perry]
Plants Of Coastal British Columbia, incl Washington, Oregon, & Alaska[Pojar;MacKinnon]
Magical Plants [The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia ; S. Gregg]
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I couldn't resist a capture of this lush display of fresh springtime bluebells nestled amongs the ferns, found on a walk in the woods one late morning .... nature in all its splendour :)
Uploaded
May 31st, 2017
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Comments (4)
I'ina Van Lawick
Wow, Connie! You have been busy. So much amazing work. I always love what ferns can add to an image. Great contrast in blue and greens here. Fab. lf
Connie Handscomb replied:
Thank you! I love the freshness of Ferns! I think it is their fronds that adds grace & flow to an image ;)
Glenn DiPaola
It's great to be overwhelmed by having so many choices to see. This morning, this one had to be seen. Your framing is perfect for these great textures and colors. The transition from upper right to lower left is wonderful - just as the eye would see it at first glance. Beautifully done. L/F
Connie Handscomb replied:
Oh! …… thank you so much! Words that make me Sing inside, Glenn ; encouraging ;)) {I really appreciate your noticing the diagonal framing for this composition ; thank you again} ;))