These days, the traditional, woodland Scottish bluebells are being ousted in Scottish gardens by a Spanish variety - which produces larger, gaudier blossoms. The illustration here shows the Scottish variety, growing in the woods beside the National Trust for Scotland property at Geilston, near Cardross.
See also The Bluebells of Scotland for another slant on this subject.
The Scottish Blue Bells
Let the proud Indian boast of his jesamine bowers,
His pastures of perfume and rose cover'd dells;
While humbly I sing of those wild little flowers,
The bluebells of Scotland, the Scottish bluebells.
Wave, wave, your dark plumes, ye proud sons of the mountain,
For brave is the chieftain your prowess who quells,
And dreadful your wrath as the foam flashing fountain,
That calms its wild waves 'mid the Scottish bluebells.Chorus:
Then strike the loud harp to the land of the river,
The mountain, the valley with all their wild spells,
And shout in the chorus for ever and ever,
The bluebells of Scotland, the Scottish bluebells.Sublime are your hills when the young day is beaming,
And green are your groves with their cool crystal wells;
And bright are your broadswords like morning dews gleaming
On bluebells of Scotland, on Scottish bluebells.
Awake, ye light fairies, that trip o'er the heather;
Ye mermaids arise from your coralline cells;
Come forth with your chorus all chanting together
The bluebells of Scotland, the Scottish bluebells.Chorus
