Photo © 2004, 2005 by Nancy Smolak. All rights reserved.

Bluebells

This is Ruby's favorite spring wildflower. We try to make it out at least once each spring to the nearest convenient patch and I look for critters while she spends an hour or so inhaling their scent (they smell great).

Bluebells were once used for lung disorders in the mistaken Doctrine of Signatures notion that they cured lung diseases since the floppy, watery leaves were supposed to resemble lungs. Unfortunately the Doctrine of Signatures has gone the way of other such notable scientific theories like Phlogistan (Chemistry), Ether (Physics) and Terra-centrism (Astronomy).

A few modern (but misguided) hikers attempt to make them an element of woodland floral bouquets - but as cut flowers they're about as successful as they are at curing lung disorders since they wilt almost immediately after picking.

They're best left where they're found and inhaled and enjoyed in the woods where they belong. Apart from feeding early rising spring Bumblebees and Butterflies (and delighting human senses) I know of no other use for these pretty little wildflowers. Of course they don't need to justify their existence to anyone, least of all me, but in my humble opinion anything that gets busy, over- stressed Americans to stop and smell the flowers is justification enough.

Offsite Link:

• USDA Plants Database. Search for Bluebell and look for Virginia Bluebell

Suggest a link! Send suggestions to Webmaster