Special Sub-Topic: The Flower Fairies of Cicely Mary Barker Authored by: Flapjack44 Sub-topic of: B Authors

How many Apple Blossom fairies are sitting on the twig?

Two. Cicely Mary Barker was born in 1895 on 28th June - That's 107 years ago as I am writing this quiz in 2002!

The Christmas Tree fairy is a girl fairy. True or False?

t. Cicely Mary Barker was born in Croydon, which is in Surrey, south east England. Her mum was called Mary and her dad's name was Walter. Walter Barker worked as a wood carver.

The Lavender fairy has a dress on... what colour is it?

Purple. Cicely suffered from epilepsy as a child. This meant she was prone to fits but thankfully she grew out of the epilepsy when she became an adult.

The Iris fairy is a boy fairy. True or False?

f. Due to her childhood epilepsy, her parents decided that it would be better if Cicely was taught at home, so she never went to regular school!

The Rosehip fairy is wearing a green dress. She has a scarf on her head that matches the colour of the Rosehips. What colour is the scarf?

Red. Cicely went to evening classes at the Croydon School of Art when she was thirteen years old. She liked it so much, that she became a teacher there.

What is the Holly fairy doing?

Holding a Holly twig. Cicely and her father were very close, and he had a pet name for her. He called her 'Ciskin'.

The Cherry Blossom fairy is a girl fairy and she is wearing a white dress. Is she wearing a hat? Yes or No?

n. Cicely was very interested in nature and flowers. She carried notebooks with her all the time so that she could draw anything interesting that she saw during her day.

The Poppy fairy is wearing a bright dress to match her flower. What colour is it?

Red. Cicely sold her first painting when she was just 16 years old!

What is the Willow fairy doing?

Dipping her toes in the water. Cicely's sister was a teacher and Cicely modelled many of the flower fairies on the children attending her sister's school. So when you next see a picture of a flower fairy just think that there was a child nearly 100 years ago who's face looked just like that!

What is the Daisy fairy looking at?

A butterfly. Cicely was supported and helped by the Croydon Art Society when she started drawing seriously. She eventually became the vice president of the Society.

The Crocus fairies are dancing through the grass in their picture. Are they...

One girl fairy and one boy fairy. Cicely was compiling books of flower fairies to correspond with the seasons... she did one for spring, one for summer and one for autumn but never got around to making a winter book...

The Oak Tree fairy is a boy. True or false?

t. Although Cicely never made a winter book herself, her friends compiled one after her death using drawings she had created but not put in any of the other season books. Hooray!

The Rose fairy cuddling a Rose and is wearing a dress. What colour is the dress?

Pink. You would think that cuddling a Rose might hurt as Roses often have thorns!

Remember I said there was a Christmas Tree fairy? What does that fairy have on its forehead?

A star. Cicely died peacefully in 1973 at the age of 77.

The Bindweed fairy is looking into the Bindweed flower (which looks a bit like a trumpet). True or False?

t. In 2001 a commemorative panel was unveiled and dedicated to Cicely at the victorian walled garden in Park Hill Recreation Ground, Coombe Road, Croydon. What a lovely thought!