The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Taking Time to Live Well

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Photography: Anne-Marie Curtin

Photography: Anne-Marie Curtin

Folklore | foxgloves

Iona Bower June 6, 2019

Why foxgloves are called foxgloves


The tall, colourful spires that tower over cottage garden borders in June have a wealth of stories behind them. And no wonder really. They are fascinatingly paradoxical - digitalis is a deadly poison but is used in life-saving heart medicine; beautiful - the pretty, bell-shaped flowers, are dappled with spots inside… All in all, they are simply crying out for a fairytale backstory, and folklore has provided generously.

Some stories have told that the word ‘foxglove’ is merely a misrepresentation of ‘folk’s glove’, ie gloves little people might wear.

Another says that the gloves do indeed belong to foxes and that fairies gave them to the foxes to put on their paws to enable them to sneak silently into the hen house without being heard.This story is echoed in the belief that the mottled spots inside the flowers are actually fairy handprints. DNA evidence will always catch you out in the end, fairies.

What fairies have against hens we aren’t sure, but perhaps it was more to do with being fans of foxes than enemies of friends. Because another tale goes that the bell-shaped flowers would make a magical noise when rung and the fairies taught foxes to ring the bells of foxgloves to warn other foxes when a fox hunt was nearby.

The botanist RCA Prior thought that the name came from foxes-glew, meaning ‘folks’ music’, supporting the ‘bell’ theory, but this idea has been debunked by etymologists [https://blog.oup.com/2010/11/foxglove/].

Indeed, the argument becomes more complex when you take into account that the foxglove is known by several different names, including todtail (fox tail)’, dead men’s bells, ladies’ fingers, bunny rabbits, floppy dock and dragon’s mouth.

So who knows where the name originated. But if the glove fits...

In our June issue, we have a feature on Anne-Marie Curtin’s cut flower garden, where the beautiful foxgloves above were grown (foragefor.co.uk).

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things -  buy, download or subscribe

More from our June issue…

Featured
Back+cover.jpg
Jun 26, 2019
June: a final thought
Jun 26, 2019
Jun 26, 2019
Strawberries and cream muffins.jpg
Jun 23, 2019
Pudding facts: strawberries and cream
Jun 23, 2019
Jun 23, 2019
Bookshop Lewes.JPG
Jun 15, 2019
Celebrate | Independent Bookshops Week
Jun 15, 2019
Jun 15, 2019

More on cutting flowers…

Featured
Flowers in the house dahlias.jpg
Aug 30, 2020
Garden pedantry | Don't call me 'Petal'
Aug 30, 2020
Aug 30, 2020
Foxgloves Anne Marie Curtin.jpg
Jun 6, 2019
Folklore | foxgloves
Jun 6, 2019
Jun 6, 2019
SIM71.MYPLOT_Verbena bonariensis- July a1.png
May 22, 2018
Growing | My year-round cut flower guide
May 22, 2018
May 22, 2018
InGrowing Tagsissue 84, june, cut flowers, folklore, foxgloves
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  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Buy a copy of our latest anthology:  A Year of Celebrations   Buy a copy of  Flourish 2 , our wellbeing bookazine  Listen to  our podcast  - Small Ways to Live Well
Feb 27, 2025
Feb 27, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Buy a copy of our latest anthology: A Year of Celebrations

Buy a copy of Flourish 2, our wellbeing bookazine

Listen to our podcast - Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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