The Flower Fairies LbNA #48878
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 6, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Concord |
| County: | Middlesex |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Planted by: | R.U. Cowgirls  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Sagacorn |
| Last found: | May 10, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFaFFF |
| Last edited: | Dec 24, 2015 |
The Flower Fairies, Fairyland Pond in the Town Forest, Concord, MA
There is a magical place close to Walden Pond in Concord, MA, where the Alcott and Emerson children liked to play and look for the fairies who resided there. It's called Fairyland Pond, and it's in the Town Forest. Park in the lot opposite the entrance of the Concord High School on Walden Street at Thoreau Street.
To the right side of the parking lot is the main trail (yellow). Walk down the main trail. When you come to a fork in the path, stay left. You'll soon crest a small hill and can just see the pond down on the right. On the right side of the path you'll see a large uprooted tree close to a jagged stump (about 8-10 paces from the trail). Walk to the jagged stump and go about 8-10 paces down toward the pond (and slightly left). Look behind and at the base of a large tree, under rocks and bark. The Sunflower Fairy likes to visit here when the days are bright and sunny.
Continue down the main path (with the pond on your right) until to see a fairy ring of human-sized benches. Sit on the one lone bench with your back to the pond. Look up and to the left -- walk between the 2nd and 3rd benches on the left, about 10-15 paces. Up the hill, behind a smaller evergreen, at the base of a large tree and under bark and sticks you'll see where the Tulip Fairy has left her mark.
Continue along the path as it goes around the pond (to the right). Stay on the yellow trail close to the pond. Find the tail where the yellow and red trails meet the second time. You'll see a bench. Sit with your back to the continuation of the yellow trail (pond should be on your left as you are sitting). Do you see a two-pronged tree just up the hill from the bench (about 12 paces from bench)? Look behind the tree, at the base and under some rocks to see where the Lilac Fairy has visited.
Please stamp and rehide the boxes, and let us know if any need maintenance. We suggest if you are visiting in the summer months, bring bug spray! Enjoy!!
Interesting notes on the area:
Allan H. Schmidt's blog notes the following:
http://allanhschmidt1935.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!32C3824B079AE090!363.entry
Whether or not Fairyland was a camping ground for Squaw Sachem and the Musketaquidian Indians, as Margaret Sidney once speculated, can remain-an open question. However, we do know that Fairyland has been enjoyed by many of Concord's famous citizens, such Emerson and Charming and most especially, of course, Thoreau. Thoreau's Journals contain frequent references to the area; he describes giant ferns two to three feet high in “Hubbard's shady swamp (the land was owned by Ebenezer Hubbard at that time) and the "dark blue indigo Clintonia berries."
Source: Author Sisson, Edith A. Title The Hapgood Wright Town Forest: typescript, 1969 / E.A. Sisson. Description 1 item ([2] p.): map; 28 cm
Mrs. Hawthorne, in her Journal of April 29, 1852, writes: "Mr. Emerson and Ellery Channing passed along; and Mr. Emerson asked Julian to go with the children to Fairy Land (in Walden Woods). He went, in a state of ecstatic bliss. He brought me home, in a basket, cowslips, anemones and violets."
Of Fairyland and its miniature lake, Mrs. Daniel Lothrop writes:
"Emerson's youngest daughter1 purchased Fairyland several years ago, in order to save its trees from the woodman's axe. This romantic spot may be called a suburb of Walden, as it is only separated by the width of a country road from Walden woods. Fairyland has a pretty pond, embowered in trees, and a delicious spring, cool and clear enough to have been patronized by the fairies. It has always been a favorite haunt for the children of the village, and many of the school children have often used it as a play and picnic ground. Some thirty years ago, the pupils of a well-known school used to hold fairy masques and costume parties there, and if a wayfarer had strayed in, he would have been surprised to find himself in the center of a fairy ring or gypsy carnival. Now quiet citizens use it as a pleasant place for a summer stroll; and berrying parties in the 'summer, and nutting excursions in the autumn often visit it and return\ with abundant harvests. Climbing up its steep path .by the spring, the visitor soon enters Walden -woods, and threading his way ' through the straight. Lines of pine trees: which compose Thoreau's orchard [recently burned to the ground], he can cross the patch which was cultivated with six miles of beans by the ‘Walden hermit."2
1 Mrs. William H. Forbes.
2 From the Concord Guide Book by George B. Bartlett.
Source:
THE STORY OF CONCORD as Told by Concord Writers
Edited by Josephine Latham Swayne, 1911
Pages 254-256
When Louisa May Alcott was 16 years old, she wrote a collection of stories about the fairies for Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughter, Ellen (the collection was first published in 1855).
The book is currently out of print but can be found in used book stores. The Alcott house (Orchard House) is not far from Fairyland Pond and well worth a visit.
Excerpted from Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott:
Eva's Visit to Fairyland
A little girl lay on the grass down by the brook wondering what the brown water said as it went babbling over the stones. As she listened, she heard another kind of music which seemed to come nearer and nearer, till round the corner floated a beautiful boat filled with elves, who danced on broad green leaves of lily of the valley. The white bells of the tall stem, which was the mast, rung loud and sweet.
A flat rock covered with moss stood in the middle of the brook, and here the boat was anchored for the elves to rest a little. Eva watched them at their play as they flew about or lay fanning themselves and drinking from red-brimmed cups on the rock. Wild strawberries grew in the grass close by, and Eva threw some of the ripest to the fairy folk, for honey and dew seemed a poor sort of lunch to the child. Then the elves saw her, and nodded and smiled and called, but their soft voices could not reach her. So after whispering among themselves, two of them flew to the brookside and, perching on a buttercup, said, close to Eva's ear, "We have come to thank you for your berries and to ask if we can do anything for you, because this is our holiday, and we can become visible to you."
"Oh, let me go to fairyland!" cried Eva. "I have longed to see and know all about you dear little people. I never believed it was true that there were no fairies left," she said, so glad to find that she was right.
"We should not dare to take some children, for they would do so much harm, but you believe in us. You love all the sweet things in the world and never hurt innocent creatures or tread on flowers, or let ugly passions come into your happy little heart. You shall go with us and see how we live."
But as the elves spoke, Eva looked very sad and said, "How can I go? I am so big-I should sink that pretty ship with one finger."
The elves laughed and touched her with their soft hands, saying, "You cannot hurt us now. Look in the water and see what we have done."
Eva looked and saw a tiny child standing under a tall blue violet. It was herself, in a white pinafore and little pink sun-bonnet, but so small she seemed an elf. She clapped her hands and skipped for joy, but as she looked from the shore to the rock, she suddenly grew sober again.
"But now I am so wee, and I have no wings. I cannot step over, and you cannot lift me, I am sure."
"Give us each a hand, and do not be afraid," said the elves, and whisked her across like dandelion down.
Read more: http://2020ok.com/books/50/flower-fables-16250.htm#ixzz0KobGqIPZ&C
There is a magical place close to Walden Pond in Concord, MA, where the Alcott and Emerson children liked to play and look for the fairies who resided there. It's called Fairyland Pond, and it's in the Town Forest. Park in the lot opposite the entrance of the Concord High School on Walden Street at Thoreau Street.
To the right side of the parking lot is the main trail (yellow). Walk down the main trail. When you come to a fork in the path, stay left. You'll soon crest a small hill and can just see the pond down on the right. On the right side of the path you'll see a large uprooted tree close to a jagged stump (about 8-10 paces from the trail). Walk to the jagged stump and go about 8-10 paces down toward the pond (and slightly left). Look behind and at the base of a large tree, under rocks and bark. The Sunflower Fairy likes to visit here when the days are bright and sunny.
Continue down the main path (with the pond on your right) until to see a fairy ring of human-sized benches. Sit on the one lone bench with your back to the pond. Look up and to the left -- walk between the 2nd and 3rd benches on the left, about 10-15 paces. Up the hill, behind a smaller evergreen, at the base of a large tree and under bark and sticks you'll see where the Tulip Fairy has left her mark.
Continue along the path as it goes around the pond (to the right). Stay on the yellow trail close to the pond. Find the tail where the yellow and red trails meet the second time. You'll see a bench. Sit with your back to the continuation of the yellow trail (pond should be on your left as you are sitting). Do you see a two-pronged tree just up the hill from the bench (about 12 paces from bench)? Look behind the tree, at the base and under some rocks to see where the Lilac Fairy has visited.
Please stamp and rehide the boxes, and let us know if any need maintenance. We suggest if you are visiting in the summer months, bring bug spray! Enjoy!!
Interesting notes on the area:
Allan H. Schmidt's blog notes the following:
http://allanhschmidt1935.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!32C3824B079AE090!363.entry
Whether or not Fairyland was a camping ground for Squaw Sachem and the Musketaquidian Indians, as Margaret Sidney once speculated, can remain-an open question. However, we do know that Fairyland has been enjoyed by many of Concord's famous citizens, such Emerson and Charming and most especially, of course, Thoreau. Thoreau's Journals contain frequent references to the area; he describes giant ferns two to three feet high in “Hubbard's shady swamp (the land was owned by Ebenezer Hubbard at that time) and the "dark blue indigo Clintonia berries."
Source: Author Sisson, Edith A. Title The Hapgood Wright Town Forest: typescript, 1969 / E.A. Sisson. Description 1 item ([2] p.): map; 28 cm
Mrs. Hawthorne, in her Journal of April 29, 1852, writes: "Mr. Emerson and Ellery Channing passed along; and Mr. Emerson asked Julian to go with the children to Fairy Land (in Walden Woods). He went, in a state of ecstatic bliss. He brought me home, in a basket, cowslips, anemones and violets."
Of Fairyland and its miniature lake, Mrs. Daniel Lothrop writes:
"Emerson's youngest daughter1 purchased Fairyland several years ago, in order to save its trees from the woodman's axe. This romantic spot may be called a suburb of Walden, as it is only separated by the width of a country road from Walden woods. Fairyland has a pretty pond, embowered in trees, and a delicious spring, cool and clear enough to have been patronized by the fairies. It has always been a favorite haunt for the children of the village, and many of the school children have often used it as a play and picnic ground. Some thirty years ago, the pupils of a well-known school used to hold fairy masques and costume parties there, and if a wayfarer had strayed in, he would have been surprised to find himself in the center of a fairy ring or gypsy carnival. Now quiet citizens use it as a pleasant place for a summer stroll; and berrying parties in the 'summer, and nutting excursions in the autumn often visit it and return\ with abundant harvests. Climbing up its steep path .by the spring, the visitor soon enters Walden -woods, and threading his way ' through the straight. Lines of pine trees: which compose Thoreau's orchard [recently burned to the ground], he can cross the patch which was cultivated with six miles of beans by the ‘Walden hermit."2
1 Mrs. William H. Forbes.
2 From the Concord Guide Book by George B. Bartlett.
Source:
THE STORY OF CONCORD as Told by Concord Writers
Edited by Josephine Latham Swayne, 1911
Pages 254-256
When Louisa May Alcott was 16 years old, she wrote a collection of stories about the fairies for Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughter, Ellen (the collection was first published in 1855).
The book is currently out of print but can be found in used book stores. The Alcott house (Orchard House) is not far from Fairyland Pond and well worth a visit.
Excerpted from Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott:
Eva's Visit to Fairyland
A little girl lay on the grass down by the brook wondering what the brown water said as it went babbling over the stones. As she listened, she heard another kind of music which seemed to come nearer and nearer, till round the corner floated a beautiful boat filled with elves, who danced on broad green leaves of lily of the valley. The white bells of the tall stem, which was the mast, rung loud and sweet.
A flat rock covered with moss stood in the middle of the brook, and here the boat was anchored for the elves to rest a little. Eva watched them at their play as they flew about or lay fanning themselves and drinking from red-brimmed cups on the rock. Wild strawberries grew in the grass close by, and Eva threw some of the ripest to the fairy folk, for honey and dew seemed a poor sort of lunch to the child. Then the elves saw her, and nodded and smiled and called, but their soft voices could not reach her. So after whispering among themselves, two of them flew to the brookside and, perching on a buttercup, said, close to Eva's ear, "We have come to thank you for your berries and to ask if we can do anything for you, because this is our holiday, and we can become visible to you."
"Oh, let me go to fairyland!" cried Eva. "I have longed to see and know all about you dear little people. I never believed it was true that there were no fairies left," she said, so glad to find that she was right.
"We should not dare to take some children, for they would do so much harm, but you believe in us. You love all the sweet things in the world and never hurt innocent creatures or tread on flowers, or let ugly passions come into your happy little heart. You shall go with us and see how we live."
But as the elves spoke, Eva looked very sad and said, "How can I go? I am so big-I should sink that pretty ship with one finger."
The elves laughed and touched her with their soft hands, saying, "You cannot hurt us now. Look in the water and see what we have done."
Eva looked and saw a tiny child standing under a tall blue violet. It was herself, in a white pinafore and little pink sun-bonnet, but so small she seemed an elf. She clapped her hands and skipped for joy, but as she looked from the shore to the rock, she suddenly grew sober again.
"But now I am so wee, and I have no wings. I cannot step over, and you cannot lift me, I am sure."
"Give us each a hand, and do not be afraid," said the elves, and whisked her across like dandelion down.
Read more: http://2020ok.com/books/50/flower-fables-16250.htm#ixzz0KobGqIPZ&C