There is something special about the gentle stirrings in my flowerbeds this early in spring. I see my Daffodils, Hyacinth and Tulips slowly breaking through the soil and the unfurling of delicate petals, slowly, each day a few more. There is a great sense of anticipation for warmer weather, more flowers to bloom, like the giant Allium bulbs my children and I planted last year. I find myself looking at some of my favorite images of spring and of vibrant gardens, fanciful fairies and children’s stories from days long ago that still resonate with us today.

So today I am sharing two pictures by Elenore Plaisted Abbott from the Flower Maiden and Other stories by Hans Christian Andersen published in 1922. The first is titled “Tiny Flew From Flower to Flower”. I just love the soft pink hues and gossamer wings of this fairy. The second is called “The Prince Drew Back the Branches” and is reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty, however, it comes from the story The Garden of Paradise. Here is a brief excerpt ,”Then he drew back the branches. There she lay asleep already, beautiful as only the Fairy in the Garden of Paradise can be. She smiled in her dreams; he bent over her and saw the tears welling up under her eyelashes. “ Do you weep for me? ” he whispered. “ Weep not, beautiful maiden. I only now understand the full bliss of Paradise”. The third picture is illustrated by Etheldreda Gray and is found in The Treasure Book of Children’s Verse from 1911 and makes me think of my garden outside and my children playing and laughing on a lovely spring day.

I find that these print out beautifully on a thicker grade paper, even Watercolor paper, to make it look like an actual painting. They make nice greeting cards. My daughter enjoys hanging them from the art display bunting in her room. She has her own art work there, but likes switching to other colorful and fanciful art as the seasons and her mood dictate. You can save these, print them or use them in other ways in your projects as they are in the Public Domain.