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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on a presque le parfum du sous-bois jusque dans le tableau. et la lumière y est magnifique. merci.
Posted by: ChrisTine | May 23, 2015 at 11:45 AM
Lovely blog, thank you for sharing your walk. The bluebells weren't quite out here (Richmond, N Yorks) when I went in search of them 2 weekends ago, so I will go again today or tomorrow. Makes me look back fondly on the days my currently extremely-hard-to-live-with-almost-16-year-old son was a friendly and interested Little Person and we went on magical family walks. I definitely identified with the milk-shake plus ?? negotiations as you neared the cafe!!!
Posted by: Sue Jones | May 23, 2015 at 10:47 AM
I agree about Janet's work and have visited her online shop several times. But you can't beat the real thing can you? Our garden is full of bluebells right now, along with Lily of the Valley planted alongside in some places, where the contrast is just lovely... and the smell of the latter gorgeous!
Posted by: Edwina | May 23, 2015 at 09:14 AM
The bluebells have been wonderful this year. Loved seeing your beautiful photos and Janet's paintings. Bluebells are mostly over down here in the South east but amazingly they were flowering on sheltered sections of the coastal path in Cornwall last week.
Posted by: Sarah | May 23, 2015 at 08:39 AM
Lovely photos Lucy. I think the Cow Parsley is stunning this year - we have a lot around here this year, but I love Bluebells as well.
Posted by: Carol | May 23, 2015 at 07:54 AM
As an Aussie I cannot believe that green! We don't have anything remotely that colour.
When we went to the UK and Ireland in 2005 I was stunned by the green of Ireland where we went first, it really was green. Then after Scotland we drove down to Yorkshire, I will never forget feasting my eyes in the green of your spring.
Posted by: Rose | May 23, 2015 at 06:52 AM
Lovely! It looks like a fairy tale, I love it!
The nature is so beautiful and your friends paintings are great <3
Greetings from Holland, Wendy
Wendy's Mhaaksels
Posted by: Wendy's Mhaaksels | May 23, 2015 at 06:32 AM
Our local bluebell patch is Perivale Wood, run by the Selborne Society, which is the second oldest nature reserve in the UK. https://greenford365.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/open-day-perivale-wood/ Love the paintings!
Posted by: Albertina McNeill | May 23, 2015 at 01:24 AM
You are a beautiful storyteller..it's like I'm right there walking with you. Lovely photos! I love how you bring so much delight to ordinary life...I think it's my favorite thing about your blog. :)
Posted by: Farrah Lily | May 23, 2015 at 12:59 AM
Fabulous!!! Wish our woodlands had such ground covers. Her paintings are magical! Kids, always testing the limits.lol Enjoy the weekend and I hope the sun shines bright in your corner of the world! xxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | May 23, 2015 at 12:51 AM
Lovely post and wonderful Photos! My little family and I visited the bluebells here in Suffolk not long ago and they were magical. We also know the Janet Bell Gallery well and her work. We holiday in North Wales every year and love to pootle about in Beaumaris. Do you own a Janet Bell original? They are wonderful dreamy paintings and bring back happy holiday memories for me. Have you seen her cross stitch sets? I recently bought the Beside the Seaside; Beach Huts. Here's the link http://www.janetbellgallery.com/products/beach-huts-cross-stitch-kit
Thank you for another fab post :0)x Sarah
Posted by: Hula Loop | May 22, 2015 at 10:48 PM
Ah yes Bolton abbey is a beautiful place. After meeting us that day in your studio my daughter and i went straight there and saw so many bluebells !! It was truly magnificent. Thank you for sharing it with us.i would never have known of the place if not for your blog and I am so grateful. Bluebells are my favourite!! Beth.
Posted by: Beth Glass | May 22, 2015 at 10:41 PM
Wow I love those paintings, and yay for Bluebells we went on a bluebell adventure a couple of weeks ago too, and I made no apologies for a very photo heavy bluebell post, you can never have too many. Have a good weekend
Clare xx
Posted by: Clare | May 22, 2015 at 10:35 PM
Wow I love those painting, and yay for Bluebells we went on a bluebell adventure a couple of weeks ago too, and I made no apologies for a very photo heavy bluebell post, you can never have too many. Have a good weekend
Clare xx
Posted by: Clare | May 22, 2015 at 10:35 PM
You're right, the light in the paintings is almost too much to look at - and yet when you do it's just blobs. Magic, I'd say. Love that mossy, leafy woodland smell, sounds like a perfect walk to me! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | May 22, 2015 at 10:34 PM
Wonderful I have been to Bolton Abbey on my last visit to Europe. I enjoy your blog I live in BC Canada. I am so happy to have found your blog and you are a great Inspiration
Posted by: Judy | May 22, 2015 at 10:28 PM
"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?????!!!" The same way you, Lucy, take a ball of flat, straight yarn and crochet it into something cozy, welcoming and marvellously beautiful! 🌺
Posted by: Nancy | May 22, 2015 at 10:20 PM
Instantly homesick!!! Thanks for this lovely post Lucy! :) Bluebell time is very nostalgic for me, many walks in the woods with my Grandad as a kid. Gorgeous pics. Wonderful.
Posted by: CL in CO | May 22, 2015 at 10:08 PM
Oh the woods at this time of year are utterly gorgeous aren't they. The acid lime green is my favourite shade, and May and June are just the loveliest months in the countryside. Everything so new. It sounds like a wonderful walk. Quite amazing how little people perk up when there's a cookie at the end of the line isn't it. Those exhausted little legs are suddenly able to run again. The painting is lovely, it looks like just like a piece of the woods. How talented Janet is. Wishing you and yours a good weekend Lucy. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | May 22, 2015 at 10:01 PM
Thank you thank you thank for sharing these photos! xox from Michigan USA, where it's not quite (but almost) this green yet!
Posted by: Ever the traveler | May 22, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Once again, you have captured my imagination and have taken me along on your adventure thru Bluebell Forrest. :) Thank you, your pictures and your writing help lift my spirits and set my imagination free to travel on trails I can only dream of walking. What a lovely lovely way to be released!!!
:)
What fun, what laughter from the fairies and little hobbits all around............. Thank you so much!!
Posted by: Sarah Green | May 22, 2015 at 09:54 PM