the fern flower - Limited Edition 1 of 20 Photograph

Legends about a mythological fern flower are among the most widespread tales in Poland. Acording to Polish folk beliefs, the wild fern, species that normally never bursts into bloom, does bloom with a magical flower on two special nights each year. This mythical flower appears on the nights of summer solstice and winter solstice, the two transitional nights of the year when the power of the Sun is on its decisive stages. The legends say that only the fern that grows in the most secluded parts of the forests can bloom with the magical flower. It has to be a place far away from the human settlements, where no dog barking, rooster crowing or people talking could be heard. Moreover, most of the descriptions say that the fern flower blooms specifically in uroczyska, a term in the Polish language that describes places in the wild generally connected with magic or with old pre-Christian places of cult. The fern gives birth to the flower around midnight, and a loud sound described as a crack, a bang, or a thunder follows its birth. The flower shines with a golden, purple or blue glow. It is extremely delicate: blooms only shortly, and dies before the dawn, or lives only less than an hour. According to the Polish folk legends a person who manages to find the flower will be filled with exceptional supernatural wisdom that would bring happiness to their life, or will be given a great wealth and power. Printed on Fine Art paper, Hahnemühle Photo Rag® 308 g/m² For different sizes please contact on: