Foxgloves

They grow wild here but I have collected seed and have three or four colors around in the yard.  This is the source of digitalis, in case you have a weak heart. I don't know, I guess you could just chew the flowers or leaves.  But it was a spectacular crop this year...most were at least 6-feet tall and some in the 7-foot range.  And then, next year, they will be rarer because they bloom only every 2nd year and one has to make some effort to make sure seeds get planted two years in a row which I have done, but with varying results.

But, and this is sort of the point of this post, this is what we do here in Point Roberts when we have foxgloves, even if we are old people.



Is it possible that this is why they are called 'foxgloves'?

Here are some Google thoughts:

"Foxglove was used for working magic, for protection, and communicating with fairies, elves, and woodland spirits. It had many names; lion's mouth, fairy caps, folk's glove, and witches thimbles. In France, it is known as gant de notre dame, or our lady's glove."  Probably the "folk's glove" that is the key there, misheard as 'fox'.