Ever since I saw Howards End, the Merchant/Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forsters novel about class relations at the turn of 20th century England, I fell in love with the bluebell woods, in which one of the scenes takes place. Years later, when watching Bright Star, a romantic, wistful film by Jane Campion, about the English poet, John Keats, I fell in love with the bluebells all over again.
When my two youngest daughters and I decided to add another memory to life, and go to England for a week, I couldn't believe my luck when I realised that at the time of our visit, the bluebells would be in bloom. Even more so when, upon arrival, our temporary home for the week had it's own bluebell wood.
I walked through the spring carpet of bluebells at dawn, with the soft morning light shining through the leaves. After dinner I put on my hiking boots once more, to see the sun sinking in the lake and darkness fall over the bluebells. It felt like a dream, a walk through an enchanted forest. I now understand why some people call them Fairy flowers. I don't think it is necessary to say that I, that we, loved them. I hope the photo's speak for themselves.
If you have the opportunity to go for a bluebell walk, please do. It's a magical experience.
Have a lovely week ahead!
Madelief x
Our photo's were taken in the woods near Rolvenden, at the Sissinghurst estate, at Hole Park Gardens and near Great Dixter.
The drawings were taken from the book The Country Dairy of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden.
very pretty lovely erg mooi ja net de goede periode om door de bluebell woods te wandelen prachtig doet mij erg denken aan midsummernights dream wood betoverend fijne tijd verder in good old england groetjes leon10
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDear Madelief - I am so pleased that you found a bluebell wood in which to walk, dream and enjoy. Now you know why we think that they are our little bit of blue magic each Spring. The weather was chilly, but I think that it has actually had the effect of making the bluebells a deeper blue than ever.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHow wonderful - I immediately fell in love with your photos. As we are also planning to spend one week in South England next week, I hope to find those pretty blue bell fields :). They really look magical!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThanks for showing them and mentioning where you you found the fields!
Hugs from Barbara
English bluebell woods vervelen nooit en ze zijn daar werkelijk overal in deze tijd van het jaar of je nu naar het noorden, zuiden, oosten, westen of het midden van Engeland gaat.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGewoonweg genieten!
Lieve groet, Janneke
Elk jaar weer betoverend! Wat fijn dat je net nu jullie reis plande en zo een droom zag in vervulling gaan. Sedert ik deze sprookjesbloementapijten op zo'n kwartiertje rijden van bij ons thuis een aantal jaar geleden pas voor het eerst ontdekte, word ik er elke lente opnieuw naartoe gezogen. Ze liggen net in Frankrijk. Hier in België is het Hallerbos heel bekend voor zijn hyacinten maar daar was ik nog nooit, het ligt ook een heel eind van waar we wonen. Bovendien is het er blijkbaar ook heel erg druk omdat iedereen de betoverende bloemenzee wil zien want dat is het wel natuurlijk.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLieve groet en geniet nog lekker na van jullie reis!
Elk jaar weer betoverend! Wat fijn dat je net nu jullie reis plande en zo een droom zag in vervulling gaan. Sedert ik deze sprookjesbloementapijten op zo'n kwartiertje rijden van bij ons thuis een aantal jaar geleden pas voor het eerst ontdekte, word ik er elke lente opnieuw naartoe gezogen. Ze liggen net in Frankrijk. Hier in België is het Hallerbos heel bekend voor zijn hyacinten maar daar was ik nog nooit, het ligt ook een heel eind van waar we wonen. Bovendien is het er blijkbaar ook heel erg druk omdat iedereen de betoverende bloemenzee wil zien want dat is het wel natuurlijk.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLieve groet en geniet nog lekker na van jullie reis!
Such a pretty post. Thank you for sharing your walk. Deb
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDat moet inderdaad een hele mooie ervaring zijn, zo'n blauw veld vol wilde hyacinten...het is een prachtig gezicht. Ik hoop dat jullie een heerlijke week hebben gehad, ondanks de kou!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIk wens je een hele fijne week, er is gelukkig mooi weer onderweg ;-). Veel liefs, Ingrid
Your photos really capture the magic of a bluebell wood in Spring. So glad you enjoyed your holiday.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMooi hoor! Ik zag ze in de Mantelinge vlakbij Domburg. Groetjes
BeantwoordenVerwijderenZo ontzettend mooi en inderdaad sprookjesachtig! Jij ook alvast een hele mooie week,Anita xx
BeantwoordenVerwijderenZo ontzettend mooi en inderdaad sprookjesachtig! Jij ook alvast een hele mooie week,Anita xx
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWhat a wonderful time to visit England. The bluebell woods are such a pretty sight. The bluebells are nearly finished here, and I do love to walk through the woods and see clumps of them along the pathways. There are a few in my own garden, too and I encourage them to spread. Happy week, Madelief.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDear Madelief, thank you for sharing with the rest of us that lovely experience you and your daughters had in the bluebell woods. Isn't it remarkable that even though decades (and even centuries) float past us, it is still possible to share the joys that previous generations have had in such surroundings?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWith so much in turmoil and constant change, I think seeing bluebells and other natural gifts really feeds our souls.
Happy May Day! xo
Hello Madelief, so lovely to connect with you again. I'm happy too to hear that you've spent time in the bluebells woods in the UK. I love them too. Beautiful post and beautiful you! Em x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDearest Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThat for sure was a very magical experience and so much more valuable to be in nature with its wonders, instead of passive on a beach in the sun! We both always opt for such vacations too, exploring and admiring Mother Nature.
Sending you hugs and letting you know that I've managed the mega task of scanning all 36 albums... Feeling so relieved and now only have to scan some remnants.
Mariette
Dear Madelief, How wonderful that you have seen and enjoyed a bluebell wood, something I have never seen. It looks gorgeous, and very magical too, like you are in fairyland. The girls must have enjoyed the experience very much.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWonderful! So many! In our country we don`t see them in forest. Only in the gardens. Thanks for shearing. Greetings from Estonia.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBeautiful photos.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenEen waar sprookje Madelief dat nog is uitgekomen ook. Prachtige foto's en ik zie en lees dat je het heerlijk hebt gehad in ook mijn geliefde Engeland.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLiefs van Riet
Good morning dearest Madelief! Blue is usually the color that greets us first in spring, and how I wish the blues would stay with us! Marvelous color here dear one! Our spring is finally under way and it's so fun to bask in its presence. I can't wait to get out of school every day so I can just drive home to enjoy the beauty!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenEnjoy!
Hi Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt does look magical....such a lovely memory for you and your girls.
I love the photos as always.
Hope you have a good week.
Carolyn
It's all so beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenFlowerLady
Wowwwww prachtig al dat blauw...mooie foto's....liefs Ria x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenTo know that such beauty still exists in these wild, modern times; to know that there are woods somewhere untouched, natural where the blue bells bloom and fairies hide makes me very happy. I am so glad that you shared. Thank you. Your daughter looks quite peaceful and happy--so do you.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenun vrai bonheur de marcher parmi ces fleurs
BeantwoordenVerwijderenc'est si beau , je n'aurais pas pu y faire un pas
odeur et couleur étourdissante
tout simplement merveilleux
joyeux mois de MAI
bisous
I am so glad you have seen the bluebell woods - someone who loves flowers as much as you could not possibly come here and miss them! Don't you love the fragrance too? The woods near me are in full bluebell bloom, we are also seeing wood anemone and wild garlic in the mix. Bluebells aren't around for very long so you timed your visit well. The place you stayed sounds magical. Betty
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDearest Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenthis looks really lika a magical experience! I've never seen such lots and lots of bluebells on one place! We have some white and blue bellflowers in the garden, when seeing your photos I wished they would be more...
Lots of hugs, my dear!
Traude
http://rostrose.blogspot.co.at/2016/04/flache-schuhe-diy-schuhe-schone-bluten.html
Hello dear Madelief, you certainly arrived at just the right time, they don't live for very long and they disappear very quickly. Bluebells are also one of my favourite flowers, as a child our house backed on a wood filled with Bluebells, aptly called Bluebell Wood too! I am sure I don't need to ask if you enjoyed your visit in England! Happy week for you. Sharon x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSo many gorgeous bluebells and wonderful photos! A beautiful sea of flowers.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLovely lovely your pictures takes us there!!! I am just now planing my English garden trip in June I will miss the lovely bluebells but catch the roses!!! All the best from Sweden
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMadelief you are making some wonderful memories with your beautiful daughter's! Thank you for sharing such beauty with us... Have a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHugs,
Wanda
Those are wonderful pictures of the bluebells, I'm so glad that they were in bloom for you and you found them so enchanting. I assume that you don't have bluebell woods like this in Holland? Sarah x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMy dear.. you are such a wonderful romantic.. I appreciate you sharing it with us. It's like you're in your own storybook movie there.. you and your daughter are so beautiful! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHello Madelief...
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThis is wonderful... a fairy land, we have lots of bluebells, but nothing this magical! How delightful to share it with your daughters!! also that is one of my very favorite books:-)
Hugs,
Bella
Wonderful ! A true poetry...
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThank you Madelief
That is a dream of mine too. They are glorious. I'm so glad you had a lovely time with your daughters.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSo amazingly beautiful Madelief. Magical is the best word to describe this place.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHow beautiful! We have bluebells in our garden, but I don't like them there as they just spread everywhere. In the woods they would be magical. Someone told use they might be blooming at Kew Gardens when we visit there in a couple weeks. I hope they will still be blooming.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWat een feestje om daar te mogen wandelen!
BeantwoordenVerwijderen(Het huis in Frankrijk is niet van ons hoor maar van vrienden. En daar mogen we zo afentoe in vertoeven. ;-)) XX Esther
Just Beautiful x So pleased you got to have a lovely Springtime walk in England, and found a magical blue faerie dell! X
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGorgeous bluebell woods! So glad you found some to enjoy on your trip to the UK! There is nothing like that wonderful shade of blue carpeting the woodland. Loved the Country Diary pictures too. Have a happy week, Madelief!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHelen xox
Such lovely photos of the bluebells. The bluebell woods are looking stunning at the moment - one of the most beautiful sights of the year.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSuch wonderful and beautiful bluebells! Glad you could enjoy them!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDearest Madelief, thank you for visiting my blog post! It's great to see you there again! Enjoy this fabulous spring. Our trees are PINK, white and even lavender!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenReally like a fairy tale...
BeantwoordenVerwijderenZo sprookjesachtig...echt prachtig zeg!
Ik kan mezelf echt voorstellen dat het bijzonder voelt!
Je hebt er schitterende foto's van gemaakt, vooral die ene met de weerspiegeling in het water...wauw.
Ik zeg een uitvergroting in je tuinhuis tegen de muur ;-)
En wat is bloggen dan toch prachtig om dit zo te kunnen delen met...nou...met mij, haha...
Bedankt en lieve groet, MJ
Wat prachtig zeg. Ik heb er aardig wat bosjes van in mijn tuin staan, maar zo op een groot veld is het echt veel mooier. Wat fantastisch dat deze juist nu, nu jullie in Engeland waren, in bloei stonden. Wat zul je ervan genoten hebben.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenFijne avond,
liefs,
Mirjam
Dear Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI can see you must have had an amazing week away seeing the pretty bluebells and staying in the lovely English countryside. Your photos take us there too, thank you. I have the same book ' the country diary of an Edwardian Lady, it is a lovely book and the illustrations so beautiful.
Hope you are having a lovely weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
Deze reactie is verwijderd door een blogbeheerder.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAbsolutely enchanting! Thanks for sharing.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenOh! I've always wanted to walk through a bluebell wood, too!!! It's on my 'bucket list'. How absolutely serendipitous for you to just magically be handed the experience! I'm so happy for you!!!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe one happy thing that I DO have is, I always loved the beginning of Howard's End where the mother walks along the hedge of lilacs and I do have that. And I feel how fortunate I am. As a matter of fact, if you remember her evening stroll, it was like she was intoxicated and that's really just how it feels - intoxicating!
Well! Really, you did build a beautiful memory. I am so very, very happy for you!
xxo