What a joy to read your word magic this morning, especially bishy barnabees! I remember the ladybird clothes for children too, I remember still seeing them in the 1980s when my first son was born but not really after that time. I wonder what happened to them?
Really great to hear the old shop has a dragon on the roof, that feels very fitting! Thank you for your joyful writing Imogen, it’s really appreciated by me.
Thank you Nikki; I hadn’t thought about the time that Ladybird clothes fizzled out but I definitely didn’t see them when my own children were born in the 80s. Then again perhaps I didn’t look hard enough! Thank you so much for reading Bracken & Wrack and for all your support and kind words. The dragon says thank you too.
I agree about dragons - I have another on my postal delivery box who I think keeps a watchful eye out as well! The wonderful thing about wildflowers is that you can pick any one and be amazed by the magic and mystery of the lore surrounding it.
Yes, I used to hear them called bishy barnabees or even bishy bishy barbabees all the time when I was little, Susannah. I think it’s supposed to derive from a Bishop Barnaby but I have no idea who he was or how he was connected with ladybirds!
I love this! This could be such a fun rabbit hole to delve down. I hadn't seen ladybirds in forever (I live in Mexico and I think they are less common here) and then I saw two in the space of two weeks but neither had any spots!
I enjoy your posts so much I thought it was high time I became a subscriber. Thank you Imogen for sharing your knowledge and allowing me to see your beautiful world.
Lovely choice of poems Imogen. Foxgloves truly are the “fairy tale flower.” They’ve quietly emerged from the green ground to tall green velvety spires but not yet opened to reveal their colours. My garden is in a rainforest “corridor,” the area just outside of the rainforest. The trees and shrubs are salmon berry, huckleberry, native elderberry, alder, thimbleberry and salal. The garden is GREEN. But when the foxgloves open it will look like a magnificent fairy palace! I had Ladybird books too and my favourites were the nature books. My childhood bedroom was a collection of shells, driftwood, seaweeds, feathers. My mum drew the line at crab shells though! I really enjoy your writing and musings of things past. You’ve reminded me of my childhood obsessions and observations: which were all the more wonderful because we have no judgment as children do we? Which makes me realize how lucky I was. Happy new and Olde May.
What a joy to read your word magic this morning, especially bishy barnabees! I remember the ladybird clothes for children too, I remember still seeing them in the 1980s when my first son was born but not really after that time. I wonder what happened to them?
Really great to hear the old shop has a dragon on the roof, that feels very fitting! Thank you for your joyful writing Imogen, it’s really appreciated by me.
Thank you Nikki; I hadn’t thought about the time that Ladybird clothes fizzled out but I definitely didn’t see them when my own children were born in the 80s. Then again perhaps I didn’t look hard enough! Thank you so much for reading Bracken & Wrack and for all your support and kind words. The dragon says thank you too.
Every home should have a dragon to guard it! Also, thank you for the information on foxglove - what a magical wildflower it is!
I agree about dragons - I have another on my postal delivery box who I think keeps a watchful eye out as well! The wonderful thing about wildflowers is that you can pick any one and be amazed by the magic and mystery of the lore surrounding it.
Love love love imogen 💖 you are magic & so are your words 💖
Ahh lovely Lou! Thank you 🙏🏼🤗 You’re one to speak though - you have the magic of the leprechauns about you!! ✨💫💚
I love that ladybirds are known as Bishy Barnabees. How delightful!
Yes, I used to hear them called bishy barnabees or even bishy bishy barbabees all the time when I was little, Susannah. I think it’s supposed to derive from a Bishop Barnaby but I have no idea who he was or how he was connected with ladybirds!
I love this! This could be such a fun rabbit hole to delve down. I hadn't seen ladybirds in forever (I live in Mexico and I think they are less common here) and then I saw two in the space of two weeks but neither had any spots!
And now you know why … they were undercover-ladybirds! 😂
I enjoy your posts so much I thought it was high time I became a subscriber. Thank you Imogen for sharing your knowledge and allowing me to see your beautiful world.
That’s lovely of you Robina! Thank you; it’s truly much appreciated x
Lovely choice of poems Imogen. Foxgloves truly are the “fairy tale flower.” They’ve quietly emerged from the green ground to tall green velvety spires but not yet opened to reveal their colours. My garden is in a rainforest “corridor,” the area just outside of the rainforest. The trees and shrubs are salmon berry, huckleberry, native elderberry, alder, thimbleberry and salal. The garden is GREEN. But when the foxgloves open it will look like a magnificent fairy palace! I had Ladybird books too and my favourites were the nature books. My childhood bedroom was a collection of shells, driftwood, seaweeds, feathers. My mum drew the line at crab shells though! I really enjoy your writing and musings of things past. You’ve reminded me of my childhood obsessions and observations: which were all the more wonderful because we have no judgment as children do we? Which makes me realize how lucky I was. Happy new and Olde May.