Hyacinthoides non-scripta
I know these are a little early, but this is for one of my blogger friends here, Arkenaten, who hasn’t seen a photo of one in years.
Also called ‘Wild Hyacinth’, ‘Wood Bell’, ‘Fairy Flower’, and ‘Bell Bottom, Bluebells form dense carpets of violet-blue flowers in woodland. The nodding, bell-shaped flowers have 6 recurved lobes at the mouth, and have yellow stamens. Flowers can occasionally be pink or white. Each flowering stem bends downwards and has 4-16 sweetly scented flowers along one side.The flowers grow from a bulb along with narrow, glossy green leaves. The Bluebell is easily confused with the Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica), and the hybrid between the two Hyacinthoides × massartiana. Plant height 20 to 50cm. Flower size 1.5 to 2cm long.
It flowers April to June, and is found in deciduous woodland and scrub, hedgerows, and on sea cliffs. A native species, common and widespread throughout.
Bluebells provide many butterflies, bees, flies and other insects with a rich source of nectar. The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) prohibits landowners from removing Bluebells from their land for sale, and prohibits anyone from digging them up from the countryside. It is estimated that between 25-50% of all the world’s Bluebells are found in Britain, where they reach their greatest density.
Photograph of Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), taken in May 2014, local wood, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2014. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
Nature Journeys 
I love bluebells, used to have many groups of them but since we moved, I have none.. thank you for these photographs.
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Thank you for your lovely comment, Selah. 🙂
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This is another example of why scientific names are important, even if it’s not necessary to use them all the time. We have a bluebell, too, which doesn’t look a thing like this flower. In fact, until I saw one of ours, I thought I was searching for a flower that looks like this! I have seen photos of English woods with these flowering in great colonies. They’re such a pretty flower.
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Thank you for your interesting comment. I love bluebells, and I am lucky enough to live near woods which are carpeted with them in the spring.
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For me Bluebells conjure a fairytale England and visits to grandparents in rural Herefordshire, much of which has now been built on. Capturing blue, especially in the high contrast light of woodland used to challenge my dad’s camera back in the days of Kodac and Agfa! Thanks for the lovely pics.
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Thank you for your lovely comment 🙂 Herefordshire is a beautiful part of the country. I love the Malvern Hills, and have visited Offa’s Dyke on the border, walking Hergest Ridge. Bluebells are indeed magical, and I always enjoy their colourful carpet in the spring.
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