#fern flower

[jareckiworld]

Yelena Popova — Fern Flower (jacquard woven tapestry, 2025)

[weepingwidar]

Antoni Piotrowski (Polish, 1853-1924) - Bajka o Kwiecie Paproci (Fable About the Fern Flower) (ca. 1910)

[lime-ether]

Happy Ivana Kupala night! 🔥🌿✨

Tonight, as the sun dips on the summer solstice, and we celebrate an ancient Ukrainian tradition.

While many now mark it on June 23rd to line up with the actual astronomical solstice, that cool and neat, it’s also was traditionally celebrated on July 7th. This holiday holds a huge, deeply personal place in my heart - mostly because, guess what... YEP, my birthday falls right on these dates (7/7) , so it always felt extra magical to me lol.

​It’s a night of fire, water, and ancient folklore. We weave flower wreaths, jump over bonfires to burn away bad vibes, and look for the mythical fern flower.

​Think of it as a symbolic reset. Fire purifies, and washing away your worries with water or early morning dew is supposed to bring ultimate healing (seriously, swimming tonight is believed to be peak healthy!).

​As for the fern flower? Legend says it blooms for just one night, heavily guarded by evil spirits. But if you manage to find it, you get wealth, power, and the ability to understand all languages. Definitely not an easy quest, but a cool story to think about.

Soooo stay​ safe from the forest spirits, and enjoy a truly magical summer :)

​Go find your fern flower tonight! 🌸💧

And bonus

Meanwhile somewhere in cryptid bar...

While Leleka molfar and the local ophir are casually chilling at the bar, our Mavka just realized she’s about to miss her own festival because she doesn’t check human calendars----

​For those unfamiliar, a Mavka is a beautiful yet dangerous Ukrainian forest spirit, a guardian, and a keeper of nature’s secrets. "But what makes Ivana Kupala night so incredibly special for her??" is that this is the one night when the boundary between the human and spirit worlds completely blurs. It's the peak of her magical power, the night when nature speaks loudest, and honestly- the biggest party of the year for forest spirits!

She’s usually completely attuned to the woods, but she’s also a bit clumsy and permanently lost in her own chaotic thoughts.

​Gotta run, girl, your magic is waiting! (And a forest to protect, I guess). Just... don’t forget to pay the tab this time lol-

And some music

[comparativetarot]

Fern Flower. Art by Mariya Tobischek, from the Ukrainian Night Tarot.

[jascurka]

"Fern flower" page illustration I did for @onceuponzine!

[pharaohgargamel]

Цветы папоротника 2026!!✨🌺🌸

----

Fern flowers 2026!!✨🌺🌸

[bruliony]

the fern flower (polish: kwiat paproci)

[teeaugustabj]

Приближается замечательный среднелетний праздник, День Ивана Купала. Мне не нравится идея поиска кладов и доставания бедных папоротников, но, очень нравится водно-солнечно- природная тематика . И еще нравится традиция из книжки природной "Ищу белую сойку" -надо услышать семь голосов разных птиц и различить семь разных растений. Завтра займусь) Сегодня, в преддверии праздника, солнечный дождь был. Сначала облака так сгустились, что фонари днем заработали, а потом пришел солнечный дождь с радугой прямо посреди улицы)

Помощники Дезвалиана и Бекки цветы папоротника нашли) Если поезда - это светлейший постапокалипсис, то, может, в то время папоротники эволюционировали и действительно цветут, в садовой зоне точно быть должны)