This was the episode to start it all. Until it wasn’t. Originally recorded (and then discarded) not once, but twice by Sarah when she was first beginning her podcasting journey, today, 4 years on this episode makes it to the airwaves. But, dear listener, it’s worth the wait.

Ah, the little bluebell. A flower tied to ancient woodlands, fairy folk and warnings not to stray from the path ahead.

In this episode we explore why bluebells have captured imaginations for centuries and take a few detours on the way. Because, hey, it’s us.

Enjoy the episode.

PS look out if you hear them ring!

Books & Poetry

* Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker

* The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford

* The Language of Flowers by Margaret Pixton

* Hedgerow Apothecary by Christine Iverson

* Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

* The Traditional Games of England, Ireland and Scotland by Alice Gomme

* Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell

* Flower Fairies of the Spring by Cicely Mary Barker

* The Fairy Caravan by Beatrix Potter

* The Bluebell by Anne Bronté

* To a Bluebell by Emily Bronté

Artworks

* The Bluebell Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker

* Helen Allingham Bluebell paintings

* Lucy Loveheart

Also mentioned

* Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

* Countryside the podcast episode about Beatrix Potter by two walkers in Cumbria

* Village of Death the podcast episode about Eyam plague village in Derbyshire

* The Bluebell Railway

* The Fairyland Trust

Flowers & Folklore on Instagram

We’d love to hear from you!

Have your own floral stories or lore about violets? We’re accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Leave us a voice note on our website flowersandfoklorepodcast.com, comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.com

Enjoy the episode!

Sarah & Keeley

Find Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | Pinterest

Find Keeley online: Instagram | Substack

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