Modelling4Comfort

Bluebells - Planning & Construction

• Part of:
Planning work
Planning work
Construction
Construction

Project Overview

Bluebells are quintessential British woodland flowers, featuring graceful drooping bell-shaped blooms in distinctive blue-violet color. This display captures the essence of spring woodland carpet created by massed bluebells. The displays focus on tow different types: The english bluebell and spanish bluebell, and then also included muscari as they often are seen together.

Current Status: In Progress

The bluebell display includes:

  • Multiple bell-shaped flowers on arching stems with characteristic drooping posture (Englsih Bluebell)
  • Multiple bell-shaped flowers with shorter tubes and shaped around the stem (spanish bluebell)
  • Small flowers, bead-like shaped like a bunch of grapes (muscari)
  • Woodland bulbs of all three types
  • Displayed as a situational diorama showing woodland setting

Planning & Research Phase

Flowers

The English Bluebell are narrow, tubular, and strongly curve at the tips. They mostly hang off on one side of the stem with a graceful loop. The Spanish Bluebell flowers are wider and more open, less tubular. They also grow all around the stem, looking upright and less drooping. Muscari flowers are small, urn-shaped or bead-like, clustered tightly around the stem like a bunch of grapes.

English Bluebell Reference Photos:

English Bluebell Planning 1 English bluebell characteristics: narrow tubular flowers, strong curve at tips, hanging on one side of stem

English Bluebell Planning 2 Additional English bluebell reference showing graceful drooping posture

Spanish Bluebell Reference Photos:

Spanish Bluebell Planning 1 Spanish bluebell characteristics: wider, more open flowers, upright growth around stem

Spanish Bluebell Planning 2 Additional Spanish bluebell references showing less drooping, more structured form

Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) Reference Photos:

Muscari Planning Muscari characteristics: small urn-shaped bead-like flowers, tightly clustered like grapes

Bulbs

The bulb for all three are distinctly different. Muscari bulbs are small and oval to teardrop in shape. it is compact with fleshy scales and a basal plate. English Bluebell bulbs are elongated, slightly tapered at one end. It also has fleshy scales, storing energy for the next season. The Spannish Bluebell bulb is similar to the english bluebell but the bulbs are slightly rounder and bulkier.

Bluebell Bulbs Reference Bulb structure comparison: Muscari (oval/teardrop), English Bluebell (elongated/tapered), Spanish Bluebell (rounder/bulkier)

woodland setting

Woodland Setting and Composition:

Scenery Planning 1 Woodland habitat references: natural bluebell carpets, shade conditions, companion plants

Scenery Planning 2 Additional woodland composition ideas and situational diorama concepts

Construction Progress

Build Photos (5 images)

Build 001

Build 002

Build 003

Build 004

Build 005

Construction Focus

Key challenges include:

  • Achieving the delicate drooping form of individual bells
  • Creating multiple flowers at appropriate scale
  • Capturing the distinctive blue-violet color
  • Representing the massed effect of woodland bluebells

Bluebells offer the opportunity to create a more contextual display showing the plant in its natural woodland habitat setting.