 Bluebells image by Andy Evans on Adobe Stock. Even if you don’t believe in fairies, a beautiful garden full of fragrant flowers bursting with vibrant blooms feels enchanting--don’t you think? To my mind, fairies are more than tiny winged or magical creatures. They represent the idea that the natural world is brimming with wonders, wonders we miss while living our busy lives. But take the time to go deeper, and you'll find magic all around you. Fairies and flowers have long had a close association, as this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson beautifully illustrates: The Flowers “All the names I know from nurse: Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse, Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock, And the Lady Hollyhock. Fairy places, fairy things, Fairy woods where the wild bee wings, Tiny trees for tiny dames-- These must all be fairy names! Tiny woods below whose boughs Shady fairies weave a house; Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme, Where the braver fairies climb! Fair are grown-up people's trees, But the fairest woods are these; Where, if I were not so tall, I should live for good and all” Robert Louis Stevenson When we were children, our imagination allowed us to escape this world into someplace ethereal and mystical...and then we grew up. But, let’s say, for the sake of argument, fairies DO exist…How would you go about creating a natural haven for your magical guests? My quest is to find the perfect flowers to attract fairies to my garden, and it’s been a fascinating journey! In today's blog, I'd like to share a few flowers that may help you create your magical fairy world! Bluebells Out of all the flowers, bluebells may be one of the most closely associated with fairies. Carpets of bluebells can be found on many forest floors, rippling like water in the breeze. It may look beautiful, but enter that field of blue at your own risk! Fields of bluebells represent places of the other realm where the fairy folk meet, dance, and feast. Stroll into this field, and you may disappear into the realm of the fairies! This realm is a place of enchantment where time moves much slower. If you manage to escape and return to reality, you may find significant time has elapsed. It is also said that stepping on bluebells or hearing them ring can mean impending death for you or someone close to you. But don’t let any of that scare you! Planting bluebells in your garden, nurturing them, and respecting the space is a surefire way to entice fairies to your garden!  Bluebells image by armennano on Pixabay. Clover We’re all familiar with the iconic clover! How many of you spent hours as a child lying in the grass searching for the elusive four-leaf clover? So it should come as no surprise that clover leaves symbolize luck, particularly the four-leaf variety. Four-leaf clovers not only attract but allow you to see the fairies! Clover leaves in fairy lore are said to offer magical protection and fairy glamour, but the clover flowers have a symbolism of their own--they aid in matters of the heart. And bees love clover too, so clover just might be a handy plant to have in your garden!  Red clover image by Couleur on Pixabay. Cowslips Cowslips are related to primrose and are one of the first flowers of spring. The flowers resemble keys and are said to be the keys to the fairy realm. Another common name for cowslips is "fairy cup" because it is said that fairies take shelter in these during times of danger. Fairy folklore says a patch of cowslips is a sign that fairy gold or treasure is hidden nearby! This flower is a must-have if you want some powerful fairy magic in your garden!  Cowslips image by Annette Meter on Pixabay. Foxglove Foxglove is another flower that has traditionally been very closely associated with the fairies and is said to be a flower in which fairies like to sleep. Other names used to refer to foxgloves are fairy thimbles, folk gloves, or fairy gloves. The name means gloves of the Good Folk (Fairy Folk) because, in fairy lore, magical creatures were said to wear foxgloves on their feet or as gloves. Like the bluebells, foxgloves have contradictory symbolism. These flowers can be used for healing but can equally be associated with death or witches, but as long as you treat foxgloves and the fairies with respect, you have nothing to worry about! So plant a few of these blue beauties to attract fairies—and bees—to your garden!  Foxglove image by NoName 13 on Pixabay. Lavender Lavender is such an aromatic and beautiful flower to have in your garden! Another common name for lavender is elf leaf, as this plant is thought to gift the ability to see the fairies when they are near. It is also a powerful defender, warding off negative energy or evil fairy folk. Lavender also has practical benefits--a beautiful scent and medicinal properties. This gorgeous and fragrant flower is known to attract fairies and—of course—bees.  Lavender image by Sabrina Wisian on Pixabay. Primrose The primrose plant symbolizes the gateway to the fairy realm and offers protection from dark fairy magic or witchcraft. But it’s worth noting that, as much as primrose grants you the ability to peer into the enchanting realm of the fairies, this flower also allows fairies to use it to become invisible! It’s worth noting that fairies love primrose, so neglecting this flower could cause you to lose favor, but nurturing the plant and helping it grow will encourage fairy blessings. This is a potent fairy flower, so use it wisely!  Primrose image by Peggychoucair on Pixabay. Rosemary Another name for rosemary—just like lavender—is elf leaf. Rosemary is a powerful herb that is said to ward off wicked fairies and their spells and attract only the good fairies to your garden. Rosemary is incredibly aromatic and handy in a wide variety of recipes. It’s one of my favorite herbs--and the fairies love it as well!  Rosemary. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. Thyme Planting thyme can help ward off harmful fairies while enticing the good ones to stay and make their homes in your charming garden. Thyme is one of the plants—along with primrose and lavender—that is thought to help you spot the fairies when they are nearby. Maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to glimpse the fairy queen asleep in her bed of thyme! This herb is so aromatic and can be a beautiful ground cover in a fairy patch.  Thyme. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. This journey of learning about flowers and their relation to the fairy folk has been fascinating! The ones covered today are just a sample of the wide variety of flowers associated with the mystical world of the fae. My research is ongoing, and more articles covering fairy flowers are in the works. But hopefully, this will inspire you to get started with your fairy garden…and drop a line in the comments below to let me know how it goes! Related blogs you may want to read: Who are the Irish fairies? 10 essential elements for a magical outdoor fairy garden A brief history of the origins of fairy gardens My spring 2022 indoor fairy gardens Spring makeover for my indoor fairy gardens My outdoor fairy garden Sources: https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/the-faery-dozen https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/plants-the-fairies-like-and-dislike/ https://talesfromthefairies.wordpress.com/tag/flowers/ https://solsticesisters.co/blogs/post/5-plants-to-please-the-fae https://sarah-liz1976.tripod.com/id28.html https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/3028 https://www.icysedgwick.com/fairy-friendly-garden/ https://theforestfairy.com/flowers-that-attract-and-welcome-the-fairies-into-your-garden/ http://chalicecentre.net/blog/the-faery-lore-of-foxgloves/ https://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2019/05/wildflower-season.html https://annafranklinhearthwitch.wordpress.com/2022/04/16/the-lore-magic-of-clover/ https://www.pansymaiden.com/flowers/meaning/clover/ https://greenwitchfarm.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-columbine/ https://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2019/05/wildflower-lore.html https://www.luminescents.net/shop/herbal/botanicals/flowers-and-petals/cowslip-flowers-primula-veris/ https://gardenandhappy.com/fairy-garden-ideas/ https://www.moonfishwriting.com/post/a-celtic-spring-of-flowers-folklore-and-food https://www.moonfishwriting.com/post/chamomile-and-lavender-in-medicine-celtic-folklore-and-magic
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