Flower Face - #Blodeuwedd

by Ardd Fotaneg, 2017

"There are many places that I love in the Garden one of which is ‘#FairyWoods’. Wandering through the woods you can see fairy doors in the tree trunks, their toadstool houses and even the remnants of a fairy tea party. I think I even saw a fairy once, hidden in the dell which reminded me of Blodeuwedd.

Blodeuwedd is one of the many tales to be found in the Mabinogion. The Mabinogion is a collection of ancient Welsh legends, myths and tales.

"Blodeuwedd was created by the relatives of Llew, the son of Arianrhod. Arianrhod had decreed that Llew could not marry a mortal woman; if he didn’t marry then he couldn’t own the land to which he was entitled. The Magicians, Math and Gwydion created a beautiful woman from nine flowers amongst which were #Oak, #Broom, #Primrose and #Meadowsweet. They called their creation ‘Blodeuwedd’ meaning ‘Flower face’. Blodeuwedd is also the ancient name for the Owl into which she was turned, after betraying her husband, Llew.

"Blodeuwedd is considered by some to be the Welsh Goddess of Spring bringing warmth and new life, in the form of flowers, after the cold and barrenness of winter.

"#Flowers are the symbol of Blodeuwedd; they demonstrate their beauty when they blossom and their resilience when they flower again in the #springtime. I feel the plants throughout the Botanic Garden of Wales display in its own way the beauty, the strength and the determination – sometimes with a little coaxing from Horti – of the plant world from which Blodeuwedd was created.

"The spirit of Blodeuwedd can be found in the in the Garden of Wales and although the ‘fairy’ that I saw in Fairy Woods has flown away for the winter she is now emerging wearing her Snowdrop costume heralding once again the return of Spring. Why not send her a letter or a picture that you have drawn and post it in the fairy post box in Fairy Woods?

"You see there really are fairies at the bottom of the Garden and if you are quick you might catch sight of her in the Great Glasshouse."

https://botanicgarden.wales/2017/02/flower-face-blodeuwedd/

#WelshMythology #May #Flowers #Blodeuedd #Pagan #Springtime

Discover the soothing power of #Meadowsweet! 🌿 Known for its anti-inflammatory & pain-relieving benefits, this organic herb is perfect for easing headaches, joint pain, & supporting digestion. Sip your way to natural wellness! 🍵🌸 #HerbalRemedies

https://livelife3004.com/2024/09/16/unlock-the-power-of-meadowsweet-herb-exploring-its-amazing-benefits/

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Fun fact is that meadowsweet contains salicylic acid. While the contemporary botanical name of its genus is Filipendula, it used to be called Spiraea, which gave its name to... Aspirin. Second fun fact is that you also find this organic compound in willow (genus Salix), which gave the name to salicylic acid.

#filipendulaulmaria #meadowsweet

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There is something about the smell of meadowsweet that has always been mysteriously appealing and charming to me. I can keep my nose sniffing the buds for minuts, being brought back to vague childhood memories visiting the pharmacy with my grandmother.

#filipendulaulmaria #meadowsweet

Wonderful wetland #wildflowers currently blooming at Brandon Marsh.

On the left, Marsh #Woundwort (Stachys palustris), a.k.a. Marsh Betony, Clown's Woundwort, Clown's Heal-all, Marsh Hedgenettle.

On the right, #Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), a name dating back to the 1500s and meaning a #plant used for sweetening or flavouring mead rather than a sweet #flower of the meadow. Other names (of which there are many) include Queen (or Pride, or Lady) of the Meadow.

#Nature #Bloomscrolling

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) blooming all along hedgerows and roadsides at the moment. County Clare, Ireland.

Cormacscoast.com Walking tours

#wildatlanticway #walkingtours #discoverireland #keepdiscovering #wildflowers #purpleloosestrife #meadowsweet #Ireland