The fairies care for all growing things. The Little Ones are espescially fond
of flowers and trees. They will care for flowers during the day and then curl
up and sleep inside of them at night. Some types of faeries, like the sprite, are
known to put some of flowers and trees to sleep for winter months or change
their colors for the autumn months. Flowers are used in faerie rituals, such
as a faerie dance or a faerie funeral, and if you plant different flowers around
the home you may be likely to see a faerie wander by. There are a number
of
flowers and trees that the fairies particularly love. The
following notes describe
some of the folklore surrounding
these "fairy flora".
Constancy and Kindness
Bluebells are also known as wood hyacinths, and as Cuckoo's Boots, Crowtoes and
Endymion (after the woodland lover of Diana, the goddess of hunting). The Scottish
name for the plant is Deadman's Bells, for to hear the ring of a bluebell is to hear one's
death knell. Fairies are summoned to their midnight revels by the ringing of these tiny
flowers, which are reported to be the most potent of all fairy flora. Legend has it that
children who venture into bluebell glades will be held captive, while adults will be pixie-
led, until met by another mortal and led out.
CLOVER
Thoughtfulness
Because fairies do not like to be seen by humans, they disappear in the blink of an eye,
but some people believe that a four-leafed clover may prevent this and allow a mortal
to see fairies in their invisible state. A four-leafed clover is famous for bringing luck
and it gives a person the power to break fairy spells and see through their magic.
FORGET-ME-NOT
Love and Devotion
Fairy flowers may be divided into those that belong to them
and those that give people
protection from them. Forget-me-nots are one of the latter group and like the cowlisp
have power to unlock secret treasures, often supposed to be guarded by fairies or spirits.
The delicate forget-me-not has been the emblem of love and remembrance. It symbolizes
devotion when two are separated.
JASMINE
Affection and Elegance
The jasmine is a symbol of beauty in China and a sacred plant of India and Persia--
Hindus call it the Moonlight of the Grove. The white jasmine is sometimes known as
the Star of Divine Hope and is often associated with the purity of the Virgin Mary
in Christianity. While the white jasmine is believed to symbolize deep affection, yellow
represents grace and elegance. According to folklore for one to dream of jasmine means that
a romance is blossoming.
TOADSTOOL
Magic and Temptation
Countless folk tales and songs link fairies with toadstools whose sudden appearance and
rapid growth have always intrigued people -- seemingly caused by some inexplicable,
supernatural force. Their unearthly shapes and colors (sometimes quite luminous) and
their often hallucinogenic properties are thought to be a sure sign that they are creations
of fairies! The Fairy Ring Mushroom is the one which grows in a circular formation,
marking the boundary of the faires' favourite dancing places. The enchanting timbre of
fairies' music and revelry can lure mortal passers-by inexorably into the ring for what
may seem like minutes but is actually years, sometimes even forever!
WHITE LOTUS
Purity
The white lotus flower was sacred in ancient Egypt, India, China and Tibet and is still
regarded as a symbol of purity in those countries. In medieval Germany peasants believed
that lotus flowers were nymphs in diguise and ladies would carry the flower in their hand
to counteract the effects of love potions.
