Friday Flowers Club #43~Fatal Beauty

Hello Friends.

Slowly, carefully, poles dig into forgiving earth, feet follow in reluctant procession. I inch across the moor, guarded and tentative, but grateful for the sun and the freshness of the air. My back is tender still, but the promise of wide open space, of birch and bilberry and circles of stone, is worth the effort.

And as I raise my eyes away from their careful navigation of the ground, emblazoned across the horizon is a bold crown of pink atop the umber dappled hillside. Dazzling and massive, tempting us in and inviting us under. It is the end of May, and the Rhododendrons of Stanton Moor are in full bloom.

Known for its brilliant Spring explosions of colour, the Rhododendron holds a double-edged reputation. These gargantuan structures with amazing, striking flowers can provide hours of endless fun and possibility for children, the canopy creating a secret hidden world underneath for play and refuge. It used to be believed that finding an archway underneath a Rhododendron was discovering a gateway to the faerie realm, and once underneath it is easy to understand why. However the flowers of this labyrinthine giant hide a potent toxicity, inspiring myths across the ages that caution against vanity and respect the plant's spiritual power.

Perhaps most famously, it was supposedly used for ‘Mad Honey’ warfare(!) for the hallucinatory and sometimes paralytic effect of it’s flowers. It is claimed that honeycomb made from the nectar of the Rhododendron was used in campaigns against invading Roman armies as far back as 67 BC, the sweet honey being left out for soldiers to eat, who were then easily defeated once delirium had set in.

Whether true or not, the Mad Honey legacy remained in societal consciousness. When Victorian plant collectors brought exotic rhododendrons back to Europe, Floriography quickly weaponized the plant’s dual nature. Because of its hidden poison. Receiving a rhododendron bouquet in the 19th century was not an act of romance; it was a physical warning that translates directly to "Beware" or "Danger."

For me however, the Fatal Beauty of this plant on the moor shone out at a time when I needed it most, lifting the spirits and propelling me forwards towards toward health, friendship and normality. What a sight, and what a day.

This week’s flowers are inspired by the most glorious bunch of flowers my lovely friend Jean brought me from her garden last week. Wild, bursting with life, colour  and the epitome of summer.

Have a lovely week and as always, “Bringing the Outdoors In”.