Two weeks ago, I declared to the family that it was Bluebell Time.
They knew immediately what this meant....
....a Sunday visit to Bolton Abbey, to walk in the green, green woodland and admire the blue, blue bluebells.
To see the bluebells, it's best to take the High Path, the one that climbs steeply up several flights of stone steps before evening out and winding it's way through the trees
The woodland at this time of year is absolutely breathtakingly fresh, lush and green....
...with a beautiful haze of unmistakable bluebell blue.
It is very beautiful up here, and although the boys are charging ahead and fighting each other with twig swords, Little Lady is by my side every step of the way. I am thrilled that she is watching me closely as I point my camera this way and that, attempting to see things in the way that I do.
We walk and chat and joy of joys the sun suddenly comes out.
The woodland is transformed by the sunshine and the colours suddenly spring to life, it is more than a little bit magical to me.
And if it is possible, the greens begin to look even more green than ever. The vibrancy of leaf and moss is overwhelming, it's almost too much to take in.
It's wonderful to sweep our eyes over the broad vista of winding pathway and leafy tree canopy, but I also love to look down and notice every little detail of plant life right by my feet.
The mosses are stunning at this time of year, creeping their way over rock and bark.
Two weeks ago, the bluebells weren't in full bloom, but it was still a beautiful sight.
We walked a good few miles on this Sunday morning, and truthfully there was a little bit of grumbling from the Little People.
Next time I really must remember to take chocolate supplies.
There began to be much discussion about what level of refreshments would be allowed when we reached the cafe. A milkshake? Yes. A milkshake and a cookie? Well....yes, ok then. A milkshake and a cookie and an ice cream? Er.... no.
The Little People were running now, they could sense that the milkshake/cookie combo wasn't so far away. I lingered behind, taking in the flowers, leaves and moss, feasting my eyes on the colours and breathing in the gorgeous scent of sunlit woodland.
I didn't want the walk to end, but I had obviously been infected by the Little People's chatter because I began to lust after a delicious cappuccino, with possibly a small slab of something home baked and sweet to nibble on. Ending a rambling walk with a bit of yummy al fresco refreshment is really rather a good idea, we all enjoyed it very much.
Being amongst the bluebells brought to mind the work of my super talented friend Janet Bell. I fell in deep, deep love with her bluebell paintings three years ago when she began to share them on her Facebook page.
Janet somehow manages to capture not just the glorious colours, but also the joyful emotion of walking in a Spring woodland. Her bluebell paintings are so full of life and light, you feel as if you can literally just walk right into one of them and dance about amongst the flowers.
Janet has been painting in her local bluebell woods for the past three years since the BBC first approached her and asked if they could film her painting for the popular Countryfile television programme.
She has painted over a dozen bluebell paintings which pretty much get snaffled up as soon as they come off the easel. Luckily for the rest of us, there is a collection of prints available in Janet's online shop (the Janet Bell Gallery). I LOVE the one above, simply called "Bluebell Woods". How on earth does she use blobs of paint to make it look like the sun is actually shining through the trees, how does she do that magical light thing?????!!!
Sigh. I love Janet's paintings very much indeed, they are just beautiful.
You can find all of Janet's bluebell prints {HERE} I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. She's a bit clever with blobbing paint on a canvas, that's for sure.
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Really would like to buy um
Posted by: Peggy McAllister | May 17, 2017 at 07:17 PM
beautiful, plain and simple
Posted by: val | May 30, 2015 at 06:10 PM
Bluebell time is the best time! We get them in our garden at home - it's put me off planting anything else there - I don't want to sacrifice those magical few weeks of the year! xx
Posted by: Elsie Pop | May 29, 2015 at 02:24 PM
Thank you for putting Janet's beautiful pictures on your blog. Through the link to her website I have discovered she painted a lovely picture that was hanging in the holiday cottage we stayed in over Easter that I admired all week. Now I know which Cornish town the picture is of and where I can get a print of it!
Posted by: Hatty | May 28, 2015 at 10:06 PM
Crack up! Janet Bell!
I visited the RNLI lifeboat in Hastings mid 2014.
I saw her calendar for 2015 and although it was a few months away ,
I just HAD to have the calendar.
You have just put a lot of dots together for me.
Haha! Great.
Oh, by the way, your blog is the only one I look at regularly, others have
slipped by , changed , lost interest, but yours is FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC!!!
thank YOU!!!!. Love Lucy. Xxxxx
Posted by: Lucy | May 26, 2015 at 01:47 PM
I do love bluebell time! Thank you for a lovely colourful post!
Posted by: Marie | May 26, 2015 at 10:50 AM
Beautiful. I haven't seen any bluebells yet this year but I have so been enjoying the (very ordinary and yet incredibly pretty) combo of cow parsley and buttercups! They suddenly struck me for the first time this year. Were they even there before?!!
Posted by: Claire | May 26, 2015 at 09:47 AM
I love bluebells - I have planted some
bulbs, from my parents' garden in the UK, in our Alpine garden and have 2 bluebells this year!! Am hoping they will proliferate to form the blue carpet in your photos and Janet's paintings! Have looked at her site and am sorely tempted to buy myself a print! Beautiful light. Thanks for telling us about her.
Posted by: Sarah | May 26, 2015 at 07:26 AM
The bluebells are glorious aren't they - such a vivid colour! I'm a little sad as they're beginning to fade an look stringy in my local woods - but lots of other things are starting to bloom in their place.
Posted by: Sarah | May 24, 2015 at 10:32 PM
I did that same walk a few weeks ago and have done another nice one today through Hardcastle Craggs near Hebden Bridge where the bluebells and wild garlic were out in force.
Posted by: Laura | May 24, 2015 at 07:53 PM
There is something very magical about bluebell woods isn't there? That uplifting combination of blue and green, and the play of light and shade makes for a wonderful spring experience. Your photos are gorgeous - I hope you all enjoyed your treats afterwards :)
Cathy x
Posted by: Cathy | May 24, 2015 at 07:34 PM
Beatiful paintings!!
Posted by: Hanna | May 24, 2015 at 06:18 PM
Lucy, thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures. You really should think about sharing them with Faerie Magazine because most of these forest pictures look like somewhere the faeries would live. A lot of the pictures that I see in Faerie Magazine make me think of your pictures. Have a lovely blessed week!
Posted by: Elaine | May 24, 2015 at 02:36 PM
Such a lovely views, so inspiring. Beautifull paintings indeed. Thank you for this dive into nature.
Posted by: Delfina | May 24, 2015 at 02:07 PM
Enjoyed your walk. And thx so much for sharing Janet's paintings...I'm totally in luv with her art works!!! Hugs, MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | May 24, 2015 at 05:56 AM
Just beautiful, Lucy. The sights are just glorious!
Posted by: Susan | May 24, 2015 at 02:01 AM
Thank you for the pictures. I live in America but was born in Bedfordshire. My 94 year old father who lives with me is from Yorkshire. Your pictures bring back many happy memories for him of places he went when he was young. He is now unable to get out but loves to look through your lovely pictures. I love to look through your crochet patterns. I now have many skeins of stylecraft yarn in lovely colors to make many blankets. Thank you for the enjoyment you bring to us.
Posted by: Elizabeth Steenblik | May 24, 2015 at 01:01 AM
Such lovely pictures. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful walk with us. Your pictures make me feel like am right there with you and the peeps. Janet's paintings are awesome. I really loved this post!!
Posted by: Robin Summers | May 23, 2015 at 10:04 PM
Nancy posted the exact same thoughts I had reading this post. You too, Lucy, paint wonderful pictures, but you use yarn and words rather than paint, and you very generously share them with us. My "wildflower meadow" as I call it, although it's only about 3m square, is full of bluebells this year, and there are a few poppies about to burst. Looking good and lifts my spirits every time I look at it. The healing power of nature is strong!
Posted by: Kath | May 23, 2015 at 09:05 PM
Thank you for letting us know about Janet Bell's work. Her paintngs look really beautiful!
Have a happy , relaxing , family weekend.
Tina
Posted by: TINA | May 23, 2015 at 05:05 PM
Thank you so much for taking us along with you through the Bluebell Forest and letting us experience through your eyes the wonder of spring in England. The renewel of life with all it's glorious colors that go along with the newness of the bluebells and woods are beautiful.
Janet's paintings are lovely. The lady has a lot of talent.
Posted by: Penny Rongo | May 23, 2015 at 03:51 PM
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. I can see why you go for that walk in a slow fashion!
Posted by: Piggie4299 | May 23, 2015 at 02:01 PM
You have transformed a very grey and dismal almost winters day here in Australia,merci beaucoup,lovely lady!
Posted by: Anne Tisell | May 23, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Hi Lucy, Thank you so much for taking me on your bluebell walk. I adore bluebells and all the beautiful greens of spring, it's all so breathtaking at this time of year. I'm sure I might have spotted a fairy or two in those lovely photos of yours.
I had a look at Janet's paintings too, they are wonderful. Maybe I'll treat myself to a print next birthday.
Posted by: Denise Marshall | May 23, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Thank you for sharing a beautiful walk with nature. The bluebells are beautiful! And Janet, oh my....
My In-Laws live in Texas, USA and the bluebells are lovely there too. What a wonderful way to start my weekend.
Posted by: Debbie | May 23, 2015 at 12:09 PM