@flora.forager

✨📜Fairy Journal 27: Princess Fritillaria had me over for a sleep over! She’s so tiny she sleeps in a stargazer lily. She just exudes sweetness, and the color pink, and gossip! She told me all about how her brother Orin tried to save me from the Barnacle King but I was already on my way home when he got there. And she told me about how so and so and whoever had been seen together blah blah blah....I started to lose track of what she was saying... and she was super into the ocean now because she’d fallen in love with a mysterious sea Fae and how he was so cute and had some royal blood, but it was too bad he had a little Hob in him too because who would ever want to marry... “are you talking about Dagger?” I perked up and asked. “Yes!” She said with a squeal. I was silent after that. Why should I care if Fritillaria has eyes for Dagger? I adore her. And he can do as he pleases. But I had a sudden headache. I’ve decided I hate the smell of lilies and if I ever sleep in a flower again it’s going to be one that is wild. ✨

Inspired by Élisabeth Sonrel’s “Le jardin des vierges” (1892)

One of the fog sylphs who fills the forest with creeping mist. ☁️

✨📜Fairy Journal 26: The Hob Witch wasn’t evil, she was just a part of the magic of autumn! Her mushrooms helped to eat up all the dead things in the forest, and circled them back into food for new flowers and trees. “And I don’t steal wings! That’s preposterous,” Amanita said, “I just find bones and wings of dead creatures and use their dust in my magic. It’s not as scary as it sounds, I promise.” And with a wave of her hands the crystal bones along her pathway shattered into glittering dust and sprouted a garden around her house. It was suddenly the most adorable cottage! Then she brought me inside and poured Dagger and I some black hot chocolate with strange spices that tickled my insides. I was discovering that sometimes the unfamiliar, and the dark, holds the most delight. ✨

🦇

✨📜Fairy Journal 25: When morning light bled into the hollow tree I sucked in a breath, set my gaze, and determined to find Dagger through the bramble tunnel. (I never realized how brittle some parts of my heart were until I thought I might lose him.) I walked slowly through a rib cage of some long forgotten creature, past oodles of mushrooms, their gills a fantastic display of ruffles, and eventually came to the Hob Witch’s toadstool house! Is it strange that I actually found it...beautiful? I said as much out loud as I rushed to the door, sword out... “I’m glad to hear it, my dear. Death, decay, and decomposition are some of the loveliest things there are! Without them, there would be no new life!” Amanita stood behind me, with a crystallized bird skull lantern on a staff, a large mushroom hat, and the most beautiful face I think I’ve ever seen. Then to my surprise, Dagger came out of the front door! “Oh! What are you doing here?” He asked. I said meekly, “saving you?” He smiled so big I had to punch him in the arm. So it turns out...Amanita is Dagger’s Grandmother. (How many relatives does this kid have?) ✨

✨📜Fairy Journal 24: I just spent the night in a hollow tree terrified for my life. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing, but I went searching for Dagger last night. I followed the mushrooms down the path he took, my sword glowing to light my way, until I got to a hole in the brambles lined with glittering crystal bones. I took a few steps, then heard someone call my name. It was so eerie I thought it would be best if I waited in a nearby mossy tree until it became light out. I settled into a nook, then something moved in the shadows above me. I screamed. Glowing eyes came toward me. It was a bat! He grabbed me and...wanted to snuggle. I’m not sure if he wanted to eat me later or keep me as a pet, but I was thankful for the warmth as he cozied up to me and wrapped me in one of his wings. I did eventually fall asleep, but not without thinking that it was the oddest thing that’s ever happened to me...and I’ve been stuck in a seashell! ✨

Autumn spirits 🍂

✨📜 Fairy Journal 23: the Hob Witch Amanita wears a mushroom hat and a black dress with puffed sleeves made from Devil-in-the-bush flower. She conjures poisonous mushrooms and steals fairy wings. At least that’s what everyone says... When mushrooms start popping up in Autumn you know she’s lurking somewhere nearby. And if someone goes missing you’d better hope she’s not the reason why! ✨

✨📜Fairy Journal 22: Fog sylphs have been creeping through the woods, covering up whatever nefarious conjurings are being done on the forest floor. Rumors about fairy children gone missing keep turning out to be little ones getting lost in the mist. But Dagger was last seen walking down a path lined with red mushrooms, and nobody has seen him since. I checked the entrance, but didn’t see any sign of him. I’ve been sharpening web slasher while I wait to see if he turns up. I know he can take care of himself...But If I don’t hear anything by nightfall, I don’t care if the Hob Witch is out, I’ll go out to search for him. It’s a super new moon tonight, so my sea sapphire should glow to help light my way. ✨

I went on lake walk past big cedar trees with branches touching the ground on all sides today. Walk through a gap and you’ll find a little hollow inside. Some had people living in makeshift tents and lights strung overhead. A little further down the path a woman was playing a piano on wheels. I bought a spicy hot chocolate and sipped its warmth against the dreary cold. And in hidden places, where those who are looking will find them....Amanita Muscaria mushrooms were scattered through the fallen leaves. Magic in unexpected places.

✨📜Fairy Journal 21: Last night I camped out under the stars with some friends. We told old folklore stories around the fire before we fell asleep, and when we woke up a forest of mushrooms had sprouted around us! I love mushrooms but this time of year they always make me a little nervous because they can sometimes mean the hob witch Amanita is nearby. They say she conjures poisonous toadstools and steals fairy wings. I’ve seen bleeding hearts trailing through parts of the forest they shouldn’t be, and eerie ghost pipes dotted through the glens. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything, but what if Amanita heard us talking about her last night? I may need to stay indoors when night falls until I get the squeebies out of my insides! ✨