Looking for Flower Fairies

I have been reacquainted with the Flower Fairies, prompting me to take a page out of Cicely Mary Barker’s book Fairyopolis, and look for Flower Fairies.

My hopes are to photograph one~

“The first rule is that it must be a very hot day. . .”

{check!}

Equipment needed to find a fairy:

~Binoculars

~Butterfly Net

~Magnifying Glass

~Jam Jar

~Comfortable chair or place to sit

~Refreshments

I set up my quilt and provisions for a long day of waiting and watching, hoping to catch a glimpse~

“The best times to see a fairy are at twilight, midnight, just before sunrise and midday.”

“Fairies appreciate the following:

Sweet delicacies such as fruit, jam and cake. . .”

I brought some Strawberry Jam, Madelines,

Petite Palmiers, and Berries for refreshments

and to entice the Flower Fairies~

And packed a basket with some borrowed dishes~

My Mother-in-Law’s Syracuse Portland~ offering up their floral bouquets in hopes of attracting the Flower Fairies~

I cut some Crepe Myrtle and scattered some petals to attract the Flower Fairies~

since they fashion outfits from fallen petals, dressing to impersonate the flowers so they may flutter by unseen~

 I was alerted to the presence of Flower Fairies on this tin of confections, on one of my HomeGoods excursions~

 You can see more of Cicely Mary Barker’s beautifully illustrated fairies here.

Fairies have delicate wings

that resemble a butterfly. . .

I’m following Cicely Mary Barker’s plan:

“Once a fairy has been spotted, gently catch her with the net or my hands. Place her in jam jar temporarily.”

I brought along a couple of cloches thinking they might provide an easier method to capture and examine the fairy before releasing her~

Cicely was influenced by the popular interest in fairies which developed from the Victorian enthusiasm for fairy stories and the immense popularity of J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan in the early part of the 20th century.

Flower Fairies of the Spring, her first book published in 1923, was well received by a post-industrial, war-weary public who were charmed by her vision of hope and innocence.

Fairyopolis is the secret fairy journal of Cicely Mary Barker, recorded during a magical summer of 1920 ~ a delightful book for the young at heart. . . complete with illustrations, bits of fairy relics hidden under postcards, photos & fold-outs~ along with a sample of fairy dust :)

Arriving at a friends’ summer home in Storrington, Sussex, England~ Cicely plans to paint and garden, surrounded by meadows filled wildflowers. On her arrival, she discovers this tranquil haven is surrounded by flower fairies. Cicely chronicles her discoveries, illustrating and compiling evidence of fairies in her journal. . .

It is a summer that she opens herself up to a whole new world~ unseen but often imagined.

“Flower beds are a perfumed paradise for fairies that desire beauty above all else. Every flower has its own fairy to care for it, which explains why most of my own fairy encounters have taken place in the garden.”

Looking for Flower Fairies Details:

Dishes/ Portland by Syracuse

Flatware/ Oneida Community Evening Star

Napkins & Butterfly Glasses/ HomeGoods

Wire Cloche/ Stein Mart, several years ago

  Suspend your disbelief and enter

the Flower Fairies’  Magical Realm. . .

After all, only true believers

are able to see the fairies. . .

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~

Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish!~

StoneGable for Tutorials Tips and Tidbits~

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday~

2805 for Potpourri Friday~

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday~

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~