Bluebell Appreciation

I absolutely love and adore this time of year when Spring is in full throttle and there might even be some teensy whiffs of early Summer in the air. The days are long and light and the trees are slowly starting to green up again after their sleep. It's all so uplifting and beautiful out there!

A trip to Bolton Abbey to take in the bluebells has become something of a May-must-do for us, and despite the long winter and slow start to Spring the bluebells have arrived pretty much bang on time this year.

Over the years, I've noticed that not one member of my family appears to care much about whether bluebells are flowering or not. They don't arrive at the start of May with Bluebell Anticipation at the forefront of their minds like I do.

Year after year they look completely baffled when I tell them it's Bluebell Time and therefore it is completely imperative that we go forth into the woodland to Appreciate them.

They are happy enough to indulge me though, and on Saturday we did indeed take a beautiful stroll through the woodland to breathe in the scent of wild garlic and the incredible shades of bluebell blue.

As in previous years I manage to achieve walking harmony by having a large bar of milk chocolate in my bag, and delivering a firm promise of refreshments in the cafe afterwards. I promised all sorts of fizzy drinks and sweet treats, and do you know what? We enjoyed a really peaceful stroll with only the minimum of stick fighting and associated tantrums. Boys eh, the stick thing is only to be expected. 

Walking along this quiet pathway through the trees gave  me such a jolt of happiness, and made me so glad that we made the effort to get out there amongst it all.

It's not always easy for us to walk as a family of five these days, but gentle persistence (along with edible bribery) does indeed pay off. It was such a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.

I love bluebells. I love May. Happy me.

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Comments

[Anthea Cook]

Totally share your love of bluebells!!! My son was born in May 25 years ago and his dad brought bluebells into the hospital whilst we were waiting for him (it was ok to pick them all those years ago). Like you, we go on a pilgrimage into our local bluebell woods in Hertfordshire, but now we are accompanied by the dogs rather than children. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures.

[Linden]

I share your love of bluebells, Lucy, but owing to caring duties this year I can't get out to walk among them - but your photos help to make up for it.

[Vicky]

I miss spring in the UK! I have some bluebells in my garden but its not the same - used tone my favourite time of year too.

[Rosina]

No one wants to come with me to look at the bluebells this year. I took my mum when she visited but that was a fortnight ago and they weren't yet at their best. I'm thinking of bribery.

[Lynda M Otvos]

Thank you for sharing these inimitable photos with us. Your generosity models such graceful living for your children; for that my future self thanks you too.

[Sandra Kendal]

Beautiful, just beautiful.

[Andrea]

What beautiful pictures.... of such a beautiful path! I feel like I could jump into the pictures & walk forever! :)

Happy Spring~ Andrea
XOXOXO

[Sue.]

someday your little family will "get" your bluebell love and your love of nature...they really will. keep taking them, keep bribing them (I firmly believe in bribery) drag them along...they will someday do the same thing with their children! Enjoy your lovely spring!

[Hayley]

What stunning pictures :)

[Elisabeth]

Ohhhhh, what a lovely stroll it must have been! I am totaly in awe :-) Love these charming flowers as well, but by us there are none, I know them from my visits in Ireland, but there were not so many of them. Love your pics, enchanted forest :-)
Greetings from Austria
Elisabeth

[Winwick Mum]

That's an awful lot of bluebells! They're really pretty, and even if the Peeps don't remember the Bluebell Walks with fondness, they'll certainly remember the bribes ;-) xx

[Mila]

Beautiful. I didn't know White Bells exist, too, until I discovered them this spring in my garden... The most beautiful time of the year. Full of magic...

[Kristen]

Oh my goodness, that all just looks so magical. And the idea of a cafe treat afterwards makes me swoon with happiness. What a lovely day! :)

[Jan Legge]

I'm glad I'm not the only one! Every year I anticipate the Cherry Blossom on the trees round the East Leeds outer ring road and the blue haze of bluebells under shady trees.

[Mar]

Ahaha yes boys and sticks... Nothing like a whole troop full of young boy scouts at a campout... And the sticks...

[Nele]

Every day we are fortunate to be able to walk our dogs through the woods in the South East of England and the bluebells are at their very best now. I adore bluebells and love to see them carpeting the woods in May and I like to spot the white ones dotted about. Sometimes the perfume is overwhelming - but I always feel a little sad because I know that our beautiful, delicate and graceful native British bluebells - which shyly hang their heads - are under a huge threat from the large bold, brash, upright and unscented Spanish invaders. I have spotted some large upright hybrids even in the middle of the woods and I fear that - like the red squirrel now - in years to come there will be only a few isolated places where our lovely scented native bluebells will be enjoyed by our children's children.

[rachel]

Such beautifiul photos. Thank you

[Liana]

Sooo pretty!

[krista]

Very pretty!

[Hanneke]

I'm in Windermere for a couple of days and the lakeside is carpeted with them....we need a bluebell wood crochet project! 😀

[Jacqui]

There are so many bluebells everywhere this year. I love them too beautiful almost purple blooms.And beautiful colours of the trees.

[Carol]

I never enjoyed the flowers when I was young but did love Spring. Nowadays I can go into raptures about Spring flowers and birds of course. You are not alone!!

[Busir]

We don't see bluebells here south of Paris but we ve a lot of hydrangeas on the garden walls .It's stunning ! y.s

[leah lynch]

Here in Texas we go on long drives (100 miles or so) tolook at all of the bluebonnets and indian paintbrushes and painted dasies. Fields and fields full of the most delightful blossoms!

[Elsie]

I love when Facebook friends take me along on their tiny tours and travels!
Currently working on my first c2c blanket. Either baby size, or baby doll size depending on how far I can stretch my leftover bits and pieces.🚼