After sharing the pictures of a possible fairy ring of flowers in my front garden, I started to wonder about them because before now I had only heard of them being with mushrooms. After some more research, I found out that another type of ring is a necrotized zone of grass in a circle (dead grass), well I have a few of those in my front yard! I thought it was from voles but 2 are each around a hosta & the bleeding hearts beside them are growing… so everything is flourishing & the hostas are larger this year. I will have to take pictures tomorrow & add them to this post. A darker green ring in grassy areas is also considered a fairy ring.
3 Fairy Rings in the front of my house! I’m so excited!
According to folklore/fairy tales… these rings are said to be where fairies or elves were dancing in a circle under the moonlight. They do not take kindly to their dancing being interrupted & the punishment is to dance in the circle until you pass out from exhaustion, go mad, or die in the worst-case scenario but bad luck will befall you if you cross through a fairy ring of any type or size at the very least.
It has also been said that fairies use flowers to wear & use, and/or there is a fairy for each flower & that the fairy takes on the personality of the plant or flower that it is a part of its spirit.
For instance
Poisonous plants - mischievous fairies
Healing plants - compassionate fairies
To hurt the plant is to hurt the fairy, so you will in turn have bad luck.
I am trying to learn more about working with the fae & have been doing a lot of work with my gardens & plants. So for now, I am not going to rake up the grass around the hostas. I do have to transplant 2 of my bleeding heart plants that came up tiny this year. Our front yard is the full sun area & they like the shade. They are going under the oak in my backyard.
This brings me to plants said to be liked by the fairies. I will list the ones that I remember & link a website that goes into a more in-depth look at plants, herbs, and flowers that fairies enjoy.
Foxglove
Iris
Creeping Thyme
Boxwood
Daylilies (tall/short)
African Violets
Scotch Moss
I actually have a few of these flowers/plants in my yard or gardens. Without even knowing they were enjoyed by fairies also. I’m still going to start small & just take care of the areas around the rings as best I can until i can find out more about the rings in my yard
That’s amazing, Siofra! It sounds like your yard is a favorite party spot for the Fae- how cool
This is so cute? Now I’m imagining fairy fashion based on different types of flowers, and how flower meanings would affect fashion choices. Really sweet to think of
Also makes me think that flowers nearby (not breaking or entering into the circle) could be a good option for an offering, if one wanted to please or win over the nearby Fae
This was an awesome entry and a very fun read- thank you so much, @Susurrus!
I actually just came inside so I added the other 2 rings & the small 1 that I just noticed & this is the ring of daylilies that I planted to keep the front enclosed by flowers & since have been really selective of what goes in there. Not so much where but if it’s a plant or flower type of thing. Inside the ring is hostas, daisies, irises, a lilac bush, rose of Sharon bush, dahlia, & hibiscus.
& this is the area where there was a bunny nest & momma came to pick up her babies so now it’s empty right on the left bottom side of the bird bath (don’t mind the weed… I am working on those & pulling rocks from the edge of the driveway ring
Ooooo yes indeedy I do spend time with my little snail buddies. In the wet weather I do a snail rescue and relocate mission on my driveway before I leave for work i the morning so nobody gets smushed. This morning we have had the first rain in weeks and the total was 37 little friends
I’m so happy that your rescue mission went well!
I just got my bird friends to come back to our yard. We have orange slices out for the orioles & for Mother’s Day, my husband & daughter got me a squirrel-resistant bird feeder that looks like a red barn! Now the little birds : bird: & cardinals & bluejays are back too. I have seen blackbirds but the crows haven’t been around lately.
Speaking of the bird feeder… so somehow the 1 persistent squirrel managed to get to the top of the shepherd’s hook even though it had Crisco on it, but at the top of the hook… there’s enough fur for a small hat & a bald spot somewhere on this squirrel. The feeder is definitely squirrel resistant though, he can’t get any because the “door” shuts as soon as his little hand touches the perch. It’s fun to watch him try & then swing from it & drop. I’m glad I put it on the lower side so it’s not a far drop though.
The mourning doves just wander around looking at him eating the seed from the ground & just kind of hanging out. They are pretty funny too when it’s just those 2 at the feeder.