Norma's Notes

[Alan]

[doreenh]

A beautiful picture of a bluebell wood Norma

[norma]

Well Dor, there is some text to come, and 2 more pix. I think you'll find it interesting, i was inspired by your April poem. I was going to leave my "lecture" there, but it's too long for a comment, so asked Alan to set me up here. He has e-mailed me a set of destructions...won't have time to look properly until tonight though. Keep your fingers crossed.

[cpdhuet]

Norma, I have some advice for you such as it is. Beware of posts that are excessively long, people soon lose interest especially old dudes like me. Just make them shorter and post them more often. That will keep the interest going. Glad to see you as a moderator. Thanks.
Claude

[doreenh]

CPD I feel the same way for even if a poem is long I lost imterest although it could be brilliant

[Alan]

Don't be put off Norma, go for it! Are those pesky Spanish Bluebells in your picture?

[norma]

Certainly not Alan, they look like English ones to me. Bear with me, I cannot make head or tail of your destructions, being unable to concentrate at present. My brother will post for me next time he visits. Thankyou for all your effort on my part.

[Alan]

[cpdhuet]

Norma do your own posting, don't depend on your brother. Women are just as smart as men when they apply themselves and don't you forget it. If you are up tight RX take 5mg. of Valium, relax and read the instructions slowly. I have confidence in you. Dr. Claude

[norma]

Valium 5 would knock me out Claude! Bear with me everyone.

[norma]

Doreen's lovely poem about April, and the accompanying photo of an English bluebell spurred me on to write this. I was going to leave it as a comment on her poem, but realised that it was too long for a comment. So, anyone interested in Bluebells may find this interesting. It is a cause close to my heart.



The English bluebell, hyacinthoids non-scripta, is so named in order to distinguish it from the classical Greek hyacinth. According to Greek mythology, the first hyacinth sprang from the blood of the dying Prince Hyacinthus. The God Apollo wept tears onto these flowers, and where his tears landed, they formed the word ALAS on the blooms. Bluebells, not being hyacinths, can be identified by the fact that there is no writing on them!
English bluebells, one of our best-loved native wild flowers, are not to be confused with the invading Spanish bluebell, hyacinthoids hispanica. These introduced plants are very pretty, but much less delicate than the English ones. Hybridisation between these two plants is threatening the survival of our lovely English bluebell.

I do not know of a species of Bluebell known as mystic, but I live in hope!

I also hope that you enjoyed this little piece. Not being an expert in horticulture or Greek mythology, I do stand to be corrected. However, my interest over the years has given me a little knowledge, which I am sharing with you all.

At the end of the month, our woodlands will be carpeted with delicate blue bells....long may they live! Our British Isles hold more than 50% of the English bluebells of the world.

[cpdhuet]

Long live England, long live the English bluebells. I thoroughly enjoyed your discourse on the nbluebell. Maybe we could cross them with our native california poppy and see what we come up with. Seems to me blue and yellow makes green, not a bad color. As to a mystic bluebell there is only one, and at the top of the list where it belongs. Hey, if you can't take 5mg. break it in two at the score line and take half. I often do when I can't sleep. Doctor's order.
Claude

[Alan]

Well worth your effort Norma, excellent job.

[norma]

Thanks Alan for all your help, and thankyou Claude too! It was your comment that made me have a go at posting. Glad you enjoyed. xx

Watch out for my next exciting installment all about the Royal Family and their jewels, complete with stunning photographs. (I know that you will both be on the edge of your seats waiting... ;D

[doreenh]

Norma that was lovely and I am glad I inspired you I don't do that to many people (LOL)

Look forward to reading the next installment Thanks Norm

[puddles]

Dear Norma, you really outdid yourself with this posting, your English bluebells are a sight to be hold, and so is your post, will be looking forwards when a jewel of a poem, and the real jewels you'll post on your site............

[paintedlady]

Norma what are you doing!!!!! Such wonderful creation I reackon that's a wild English wood with some Spanish Invaders?

[norma]

Jayne, if there are any Spaniards in there, bring on Sir Francis Drake!

[kuranui]

What a shame it would be if your lovely English bluebells were taken over by the foreign sort. It is happening here too...... many native plants being overwhelmed by foreign ones.It is the same with our native birds.

[leni]

Thanks for posting this Norma you have told me this before about the bluebells but i always forget so its nice to be able to read it here.

[norma]

If you come home next month Leni, you will be in time to see them for yourself once again.

[mysticbluebell]

Thank you dear Norma for all these fascinating information on "my" Bluebells. Well, out of about 100 bulbs planted in our woodland, 2 have made it so far and bloomed twice already in the last years. They are truly adorable and yes, they are different by all means from the Spanish ones which are the only Bluebells growing here.
I have looked at your picture dozens of times, enjoyed it all and am still dreaming of some day to walk a little path through England's woods when the Bluebells are chiming!
I can always continue to dream, can't I?! xx

[cpdhuet]

[/img]
Norma, we have native bluebells here in California but they look different than yours. I think they might not be related to either yours or the Spanish ones.
CPD

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[norma]

Claude I have seen these flowers on the internet, they are really lovely, but nothing like English Bluebells, which have a special magic.
Mystic, I would love for you to have the chance to walk through a bluebell wood one day. Next month is their time, so maybe you should be planning a trip! Good luck with your own bluebells, I remember you telling me that you had planted some, I wish that more of them had bloomed for you though. (I am still looking for a "mystic" one!
Thanks again for you pic Claude.

[kuranui]

I think any blue flowers are lovely. I would absolutely love to see the English bluebell woods. Maybe one day I may, but until then, I can only dream.

[norma]

Kuranui, I too love blue flowers, they are so rare in nature, but so perfect when they appear. You should just see my forget-me-nots which have taken over the borders in a mist of blue. I wish that one day you can come to England in May, and see the bluebell magic. I know that Chris remembers them from his youth in Yorkshire. It would be a treat for him too. An unforgettable sight. x

[puddles]

Norma, in your opinion, which flower is bluer in color, your bluebells, or my blue bonnets?

[norma]

They are different flowers, and different blues...they are both beautiful in their own way, but Bluebells hold a special place in most English hearts, as I suppose Bluebonnets do for a Texan heart. (That is, if Texans have hearts...)

[puddles]

Texans do indeed have a heart, more so then the ones from California who claim my Bluebonnets are weeds...............now that person has no heart..............

[norma]

Bluebonnets are wild flowers, much like our Bluebells. Most wild flowers are referred to was weeds...the dictionary definition of a weed is a flower or plant which grows where it is not wanted. So, Bluebonnets and Bluebells are not weeds. To us at least, I am sure that to many people who want to build freeways and housing estates over the last of our wild land, they are weeds.
They are one of God's gifts to us, little secret songs spilling out of the earth...(Edna O'Brien.)