foxglove, folksglove, foxes glew, Fuchs glove..... who knows?
"Many suggestions for the derivation of the name "foxglove" have been proffered. According to the 19th-century book, English Botany, Or, Coloured Figures of British Plants:
Dr. Prior, whose authority is great in the origin of popular names, says "It seems probably that the name was in the first place, 'foxes' glew, or music, in reference to the favourite instrument of an earlier time, a ring of bells hung on an arched support, the tintinnabulum"... we cannot quite agree with Dr. Prior for it seems quite probable that the shape of the flowers suggested the idea of a glove, and that associated with the name of the botanist Fuchs, who first gave it a botanical name, may have been easily corrupted into foxglove. It happens, moreover, the name foxglove is a very ancient one and exists in a list of plants as old as the time of Edward III. The "folks" of our ancestors were the fairies and nothing is more likely than that the pretty coloured bells of the plant would be designated "folksgloves," afterwards, "foxglove." In Wales it is declared to be a favourite lurking-place of the fairies, who are said to occasion a snapping sound when children, holding one end of the digitalis bell, suddenly strike the other on the hand to hear the clap of fairy thunder, with which the indignant fairy makes her escape from her injured retreat. In south of Scotland it is called "bloody fingers" more northward, "deadman's bells" whilst in Wales it is known as "fairy-folks-fingers" or "lambs-tongue-leaves"."
Thank you Mr Wikipedia.
I took Angus into Stratford to take his textbooks back to school this afternoon. I always think that Stratford is going to offer me loads of wonderful photo opportunities, but usually end up being rather uninspired. Today was no exception so here is a picture of a foxglove from our garden.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning because this weekend we have got a big reunion as my aunt and uncle are over from Australia and on Sunday 25 of them, including my cousin who has been dubbed 'Mrs Goodwife' - you know, perfect house (no pets!), perfect kids, perfect husband, that kind of thing - I'd love to hate her but she's just too lovely, are coming here for lunch.
Oh and so soul destroying trying to tidy when the kids are at home - congenitally unable to open a dish washer (but VERY good at opening food cupboards) and generally scattering stuff all over the place. Adam did eventually do a lovely job of making up the spare room bed for my friend last night though - after I'd gone and sworn at him for the fifteenth time for being on the PS3 and making the spare room hot. He left his iPod charger plugged in though and the bed was making hitting it and making a weird knocking noise all night. Mustn't complain too much as the summer job is quite regularly keeping him out of the house AND fed (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and a conference dinner the other day).
@judithg You got him to make up the spare bed? I am impressed! We were supposed to be having cod wrapped in prosciutto yesterday, when I got the the fridge Angus had helped himself to the prosciutto and had absolutely no comprehension of why I was less than impressed. Such a selfish age.
@jantan Yes well that's the only room that has net curtain things (voile panels as John Lewis likes to say) due to the neighbours' having a window right opposite and Adam opens the window behind by grasping the curtain and the window handle and has pulled the curtain rail down about 5 times now. On top of that I had to re-wash the clean duvet cover because he'd put his filthy sweaty feet all over it - consequently he realised my fuse was short. Has Angus been in Churchill College kitchen? Adam had to lay out 100 pieces of prosciutto on plates ready for wrapping something or other on Wednesday - which was fine but there were 180 guests! Much swearing ensued apparently.
Great photo as all the comments above made me laugh.Sorry I know how annoying they can be but we still love then. Re the visit I always think well its my home and I love it.
Lovely family blog as usual....glad all mine have flown the nest!! Love the ongoing discussions re family life...as good as the photos to me!!
BTW lovely foxglove!!
You made me laugh out loud with the comment "oh, and she runs marathons"....I could hear the big sigh after that!!
Beautiful shot, such a lovely flower...it doesn't grow well here.
My (almost) 21 yr old son has "moved out"....but "his" room is still a bloody mess and full of the junk he didn't take with him! Maybe this weekend I will pack it all up.
Beautiful botanical shot and derivation of the word. I have visitors who run perfect homes without a cobweb in sight but that's not how I run my ship, there is a b&w opposite!!
BTW lovely foxglove!!
Beautiful shot, such a lovely flower...it doesn't grow well here.
My (almost) 21 yr old son has "moved out"....but "his" room is still a bloody mess and full of the junk he didn't take with him! Maybe this weekend I will pack it all up.
No offence, but I'm not sure I like your cousin though...