Oh, Jeanne, when I got to the end I found myself holding my breath. Your experience with the fireflies was absolutely magical. Thank you for sharing it with us. Recently, I heard a DNR biologist talk about fireflies, and I've been planning to write about them, but I'll never be able to top this experience. Like Mark, I think I need to plan a trip up your way in May. This was incredible! What a beautiful writer & human you are. I'm so glad to know you.
Thank your for sharing this enchanting experience, Jeanne. I’ve shared it with my book group that’s reading Night Magic. Yes, it was a childhood experience that we took for granted, yet it was magical nonetheless.
We visited the Pisgah tour this weekend. A client had tickets and wasn't able to attend, so she gave them to me. It was a bucket list event for my husband and me, but so many people walking the trails with us didn't follow the instructions and the we kept moving and doing our best to outrun the loud voices and constant light. Your experience is exactly what we were hoping for. Thank you for all the information about the fireflies and for inviting us into your experience. It truly was sacred moment for us witnessing these creatures, no matter how many humans there were around us.
Oh, Kimberly ... so sorry that happened! That was my fear of those crowded excursions. I think Terra Nova is having their tours for another few nights. Maybe you could catch one of those? https://www.terranovacenter.org/blueghostfireflytours
Oh Jeanne, what a beautiful and evocative description of the blue ghosts! I was mesmerised and felt right there with you. The silence seems so profound and sacred in itself.
We don't have fireflies in New Zealand, though I saw some in Italy once and was entranced. We have glow worms, a beetle that live in caves and rock walls. Seeing them as children was magical. We had to stay silence as the lights went out as soon as anyone made a noise.
Terra Nova is a special place! My husband teaches a firefly photography workshop near Rosman, NC the first weekend in June. We expect to see the synchronous fireflies light up 50 acres of fields and are hoping to get to view the blue ghosts deep in the woods down by the creek. Fingers crossed!
Sounds like we're neighbors (sort of), Angie! I am just south of Rosman. That photography workshop sounds interesting! I'd love to see those synchronous fireflies.
Jeanne - we used to live in Brevard but now live in Gastonia. We’ll be at Earthshine Lodge June 5 - 7 and you can find details about the workshop on their website. It’s a magical experience.
Thanks for sharing your magical adventure. I went to Terra Nova in what might have been my first or second spring up here. So much happened with life changes in the early days. But someone said I could go there and see the fairies. my story is very different and we did see a literal fairy, validated later by a friend snapping shots of the same place on a tree trunk that she 'felt' something about. There it was on her photos...the small red oval of light that we saw on the ground that flew up to hover in front of my friend after I was silently pleading to let something wonderufl happen for her. That shifted into a fairy...stayed for a few moments and then became a white oval that flew away into the trees on the left. I think what you are saying are 'blue ghosts' were the amaing white orbs with a darker center that we saw on their parade up from the lake. It was only the four of us that evening and just silently watching the light go down in the 'friendship garden' at Terra Nova was magical. Many others came the following year to visit me and see the fairies. I never saw the orbs or the small red and blue lights again. My experience motivated me to write The Greatest Enchantment, a Forest Fairy Adventure.
After Miriam passed and also Helene, things have gotten quite organized at Terra Nova. Before i went I had to ask Miiriam's permission...psychically she read me and said I could come anytime and bring friends. The have my favorite labyrinth on the grounds there...but you can no longer park below and I guess you have to walk the road from the parking area now up near the main building now. And for lightning bugs, the woods behind my home will light up one night and if I am aware, I will stand mesmerized at my window for a long time.
Thank you for sharing all that, Shellie! I love that you've also been there and tasted the magic. We did walk the road for at least 30 minutes to get to the viewing area where we ended up. Opposite side of the road from the labyrinth and sweat lodge.
We were headed to the labyrinth there and the Cedar Mountain Cafe the day Helene came and our plans, of course, changed. I never walked a road for 30 minutes to get to the friendship garden so they must have changed that, too. I have to admit this makes me sad, but Helene did a number on a lot of things.
What a joy to read about your experience with the Blue Ghost fireflies, Jeanne! I am so glad you could visit with them and absorb their magical "light songs." Your piece reminds me of two things. One is that the organization for firefly conservation and research has a simple guide to creating and maintaining firefly habitat in any yard to help the various species survive: https://www.firefly.org/build-firefly-habitat?srsltid=AfmBOopCR9UNfRWJBXCWG7f7d4d8hxaSuQk6X1Zkh23CtWLkerPUIZZa
And the other is that the very first feature article I wrote for a national magazine was on fireflies, almost 40 years ago! Blessings and a hug to you.
Oh, Jeanne, when I got to the end I found myself holding my breath. Your experience with the fireflies was absolutely magical. Thank you for sharing it with us. Recently, I heard a DNR biologist talk about fireflies, and I've been planning to write about them, but I'll never be able to top this experience. Like Mark, I think I need to plan a trip up your way in May. This was incredible! What a beautiful writer & human you are. I'm so glad to know you.
Let's get it on your calendar for next May, dear friend! 💙🩵💙
Thank your for sharing this enchanting experience, Jeanne. I’ve shared it with my book group that’s reading Night Magic. Yes, it was a childhood experience that we took for granted, yet it was magical nonetheless.
Magical is indeed the word, Leah! And thank you so much for sharing this with your book group.
We visited the Pisgah tour this weekend. A client had tickets and wasn't able to attend, so she gave them to me. It was a bucket list event for my husband and me, but so many people walking the trails with us didn't follow the instructions and the we kept moving and doing our best to outrun the loud voices and constant light. Your experience is exactly what we were hoping for. Thank you for all the information about the fireflies and for inviting us into your experience. It truly was sacred moment for us witnessing these creatures, no matter how many humans there were around us.
Oh, Kimberly ... so sorry that happened! That was my fear of those crowded excursions. I think Terra Nova is having their tours for another few nights. Maybe you could catch one of those? https://www.terranovacenter.org/blueghostfireflytours
Thank you so much for letting me know this place exists!
Some experiences are more special than others. This is certainly one you should not miss.
You were the soul of patience for this! Thank you. 💙
Fascinating, can only imagine their brilliance. Pinned. Thku learned alot.🌱
You are so welcome, CJ ... and thank you for being here!
Oh, how wonderful! I was unaware of these blue ghosts - thank you for the intro!
You're very welcome, Amie!
What a beautiful experience to read about first thing in the morning ❤️
Thank you, Paul -- I'm glad to have helped you start your day right!
I saw them last night at my place in the Blue Ridge—a miracle in this drought! So glad you witnessed them,Jeanne
That's a huge blessing for you, Georgann! I was hoping I had them on my land too, but ... no luck. And you're right, the drought really impacts them.
Oh Jeanne, what a beautiful and evocative description of the blue ghosts! I was mesmerised and felt right there with you. The silence seems so profound and sacred in itself.
We don't have fireflies in New Zealand, though I saw some in Italy once and was entranced. We have glow worms, a beetle that live in caves and rock walls. Seeing them as children was magical. We had to stay silence as the lights went out as soon as anyone made a noise.
That's so cool, Juliet. I read that glow worms and fireflies are related. You have something special there!
So lovely. Fireflies were part of my Indiana summers, but not these fascinating blue ghosts.
I love that your childhood included them, Gretchen.
Utterly fascinating. I can only wish…
Plan a trip here next May, Mark!
Terra Nova is a special place! My husband teaches a firefly photography workshop near Rosman, NC the first weekend in June. We expect to see the synchronous fireflies light up 50 acres of fields and are hoping to get to view the blue ghosts deep in the woods down by the creek. Fingers crossed!
Sounds like we're neighbors (sort of), Angie! I am just south of Rosman. That photography workshop sounds interesting! I'd love to see those synchronous fireflies.
Jeanne - we used to live in Brevard but now live in Gastonia. We’ll be at Earthshine Lodge June 5 - 7 and you can find details about the workshop on their website. It’s a magical experience.
I loved this!!!!
Thanks so much, Stephanie!
I love the little “FireFlies’
Glad you enjoyed this, Tinabeth, and thanks for being here!
Thanks for sharing your magical adventure. I went to Terra Nova in what might have been my first or second spring up here. So much happened with life changes in the early days. But someone said I could go there and see the fairies. my story is very different and we did see a literal fairy, validated later by a friend snapping shots of the same place on a tree trunk that she 'felt' something about. There it was on her photos...the small red oval of light that we saw on the ground that flew up to hover in front of my friend after I was silently pleading to let something wonderufl happen for her. That shifted into a fairy...stayed for a few moments and then became a white oval that flew away into the trees on the left. I think what you are saying are 'blue ghosts' were the amaing white orbs with a darker center that we saw on their parade up from the lake. It was only the four of us that evening and just silently watching the light go down in the 'friendship garden' at Terra Nova was magical. Many others came the following year to visit me and see the fairies. I never saw the orbs or the small red and blue lights again. My experience motivated me to write The Greatest Enchantment, a Forest Fairy Adventure.
After Miriam passed and also Helene, things have gotten quite organized at Terra Nova. Before i went I had to ask Miiriam's permission...psychically she read me and said I could come anytime and bring friends. The have my favorite labyrinth on the grounds there...but you can no longer park below and I guess you have to walk the road from the parking area now up near the main building now. And for lightning bugs, the woods behind my home will light up one night and if I am aware, I will stand mesmerized at my window for a long time.
Thank you for sharing all that, Shellie! I love that you've also been there and tasted the magic. We did walk the road for at least 30 minutes to get to the viewing area where we ended up. Opposite side of the road from the labyrinth and sweat lodge.
We were headed to the labyrinth there and the Cedar Mountain Cafe the day Helene came and our plans, of course, changed. I never walked a road for 30 minutes to get to the friendship garden so they must have changed that, too. I have to admit this makes me sad, but Helene did a number on a lot of things.
What a joy to read about your experience with the Blue Ghost fireflies, Jeanne! I am so glad you could visit with them and absorb their magical "light songs." Your piece reminds me of two things. One is that the organization for firefly conservation and research has a simple guide to creating and maintaining firefly habitat in any yard to help the various species survive: https://www.firefly.org/build-firefly-habitat?srsltid=AfmBOopCR9UNfRWJBXCWG7f7d4d8hxaSuQk6X1Zkh23CtWLkerPUIZZa
And the other is that the very first feature article I wrote for a national magazine was on fireflies, almost 40 years ago! Blessings and a hug to you.
Thank you for sharing those things, Susan! Sending you blessings in return.