click on the photo of
a fairy ring in Oklahoma City to enlarge it
A
fairy ring is circle of mushrooms or ring of grass
that is taller and darker green than the rest of the lawn.
Scientifically
speaking, these rings are
caused by a fungus that sends out shoots from its center in search of
food. The mushrooms are the reproductive part of the fungus. These
mushroom rings can grow from a dozen feet in diameter to 200 feet,
increasing in diameter from a couple of inches to three feet in a year.
This fungus is nearly impossible to eradicate because fungicide can't get
down to the long reaching roots.
These shoots/roots
produce nitrogen, and nitrogen is fertilizer that makes the grass grow. Hence, a circle of tall, rich green grass develops. Since you can't kill
it, you can trick the eye by fertilizing the rest of the yard and then
cutting the surrounding grass the same height as the grass in the fairy
ring.
There are many
legends from around the world as to the origin and reason behind fairy
rings.
-
Should you spy a
fairy ring when the moon is full, you may be invited to join the fairies in their fun.
-
The mushrooms are the
chairs that fairies sit upon to play their musical instruments.
-
Fairies love to dance
inside fairy rings. They will sit on the mushrooms to rest after an
especially exhausting tango or cha-cha.
-
Love potions
or elixirs
are sometimes made from the dew dripping from mushrooms in a fairy ring.
-
Should you find a
fairy ring near your home, it will bring good luck to you.
-
Christians once
believed that fairy rings were the result of St. Peter spitting bread upon
the earth.
-
Should you step
inside a fairy ring uninvited, you may be captured by fairies. If you
partake of their food or drink, you will become one of them forever, maybe
even a fairy slave, and not be permitted to return to your human family!
-
Should your cow step
onto the green grass of a fairy ring, it will be bring bad luck and maybe
sour her milk.
| "How can it
be a fairy tale if there aren't any fairies in it?" Jeff
and Bill Keane, Family Circus, more
quotations |
Fairy Facts
Fairies are often
about three or four inches tall.
Not all fairies have
wings. If they do have wings, those wings are larger than their bodies. They usually span four or five inches and are soft and shimmering with a
pale pinkish/golden cast.
If
fairies fly, they may
hover or float. They usually don't zip about unless they need to leave
quickly.
Fairy hair is often
windswept in appearance because it is so soft and delicate that any hint
of breeze will tousle it.
Fairy eyes are more
oval than rounded. Fairy eyes can
sparkle in the pupil, the iris and the white all at the same time. Fairy lashes are
rather long.
Fairy ears are
usually pointed. This gives them an acute sense of hearing needed to flee
from approaching predators.
Their noses have
pointed tips.
Fairies may live
anywhere and especially enjoy living on the edge of the woods where they
might make their shelter and conceal themselves, should the need arise.
Fairies may stay in
one area for a bit, but often will move from place to place.
Fairies love gardens because they enjoy looking at colorful flowers.
They prefer shade and
stay away from the sun-loving plants such as butterfly bushes and
lantana. They don't want to crowd the butterflies or bees.
Fairies have been
known to blame an innocent rabbit for foraging in a vegetable garden.
Fairies weave spider
silk into cloth for clothing. Along with using leaves and flower petals,
their natural wardrobe is most creative and always original. It's rare to
see two fairies dressed exactly alike.
Fairies like feathers
in their hair and on their caps.
Don't ever try and
trap a fairy lest they put an unappealing mystical spell upon you.
Cake crumbs are a
fairy favorite.
You may put honey or
sweets out at night along with a thimble of water for drinking. In the
morning, the sweets will be gone and the thimble toppled over when the
fairies have treated themselves.
Fairies often
watch over
newborn babies to make sure they're safe.
There are good
fairies and not so nice fairies. If you get hooked up
with a bad fairy, even good fairies may not help you out because they have
their own concerns to take care of.
Fairies often
communicate through the wind. A soft breeze against your cheek may be a
secret message, if you listen closely. A brief gust of wind may be a
warning that you're about to step on a fairy or a fairy house or worse
yet, fairy children!
Some fairies are
invisible and some you may see. It is up to them as to whether they
appear to you. They must trust you before they will let you see them.
Fairies
may also appear as shadows, translucent figures or as glittering colored
lights of purple, white, red or any color they chose.
Should
you be privileged to see a fairy, make him or her feel very special.
It isn't a difficult task because they already are!
