Fairies
In the woods there used to be a fairy tree. Children would hang trinkets on it and leave little messages.
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At the foot of the trees are poems, drawings and a host of fairy doors.
Foxgloves – where does the common name for Digitalis purpurea come from? Is it to do with the little folk wearing ‘folks’ gloves’ or does it refer to foxes wearing ‘fox fingers’ to keep the dew off their paws?
Did it come from ‘foxes-gleow’? A gleow was a ring of bells and Norse legends spoke about foxes wearing a ring of bell-shaped flowers. The bells rang to protect the foxes from the hounds of the hunt.
A Welsh legend says that foxgloves bend and sway, not because of a passing breeze, but because the flower is sacred to the fairies. When it senses fairies nearby, it bows to show respect for the fairy folk.
I just added a fairy door to our office building. Our downtown committee has asked all the businesses to add them for children to find. I didn't know much of anything about fairies, but now I know a little more.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice idea. I'm sure the children will love looking for them.
DeleteWe used to leave butter out for the fairies, The fairies would leave something in return. When our yard grows tall and a bit wild, I do believe that the fairies are more comfortable, so, No Mow May has become No Mow ever again...We shall see how long that lasts, the neighbors are getting nervous.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of leaving anything out for the fairies, let alone butter.
DeleteSmiling at the thought of your tall grass and nervous neighbours . . .
It is a curious name. Gloves for foxes. Hard for foxes to run with gloves on their feet. Can it be gloves for handling foxes?
ReplyDeleteThat is an inspired thought :-)
DeleteI've also been wondering about the origin of the named 'foxglove' this week, and enjoyed reading the different theories here.
ReplyDeleteBut fancy there being patriotic fairies!
Cheers, Gail.
I suppose they come in all guises;-)
DeleteThe fairy can refer to giant monsters from all the Netflix I watched. Fox glove has a substance called digoxin which can be used to treat arrythmia. But they can worsen kidney function
ReplyDeleteNot a good plant to have around little children and pets.
DeleteI never saw such fairy trees in our woods, what I saw were hearts with initials carved in the trunk. I don't believe in fairies, but love fairy tales, I would like to have trees like that here, that's so romantic !
ReplyDeleteThere's always something new to see in the woods ;-)
DeleteDo you remember all the excitement about the Cottingley Fairies, sadly proved fake in the 80s. Wouldn't it be lovely if someone really did get a photo of a fairy.
ReplyDeleteThe Cottingley Fairies would have been so wonderful if they had been real. I live in hope of seeing a real fairy one day;-)
DeleteWhat a wonderful post today. I certainly remember as a child believing in fairies and wish I could have found a spot like this. How fun. Beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteDo we ever really stop believing in fairies?
DeleteI can believe a link between the foxgloves and the faeries - such beautiful flowers must have magical attributes. I love the theories for their folk name.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a delight to come across them growing wild. Such splendid, tall flowers.
DeleteHow lovely all this is. I tried to draw a foxglove yesterday because I love them so much but I'm not a natural artist , your close up photo is much nicer.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Well done for trying! I can't draw anything, apart from blood and exasperated sighs from others.
DeleteWe have dozens of foxgloves in the garden now but no fairies. I especially like your bee photo.
ReplyDeleteWe don't grow foxgloves because of the animals, though we could have some in the front garden, I suppose.
DeleteI have passed your compliment to the photographer (my husband) I'm a point and shoot - and often miss! - photographer.
We have just one foxglove here in our garden. I would like it to spread itself around a bit but not sure if it is comfortable here.
ReplyDeleteAw, poor lonely foxglove. They usually do spread - maybe it will.
DeleteLove the idea of the Fairy Tree or Fairy village.
ReplyDeleteMy Foxglove post of 6th June has lots of names for them and the Foxglove Fairy too. They are all nearly finished here now and starting to look sad.
I read your foxglove post - should have mentioned it. It is sad when they fade.
DeleteThe idea of a fairy tree village is so sweet. Loved reading about the legends of the foxglove, too.
ReplyDeleteIt makes the children smile, and that's always good.
DeleteInteresting etymological ideas! I love foxgloves and allow lots to grow in the garden. Free prettiness!
ReplyDeleteThey are so very pretty.
DeleteI've always had a fondness for fairies/fairy tales.
ReplyDeleteLovely memories of walking around the garden with my dear Granny as she and I went looking for fairies hiding behind the flowers ... of course at the time I didn't realise it was her way of teaching me the names of garden flowers :)
We are fortunate to have visited a fairy trail which young or old enjoy, and you can see more on this link here:-
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-fairy-trail-another-grandmas-tale.html
Wishing you a happy weekend.
All the best Jan
What a lovely way to learn the names of flowers. I loved the fairy trail, too, and particularly liked the ladder on the tree.
DeleteWhen I was a child, my grandmother gave me a big fat book of fairy stories and I was enchanted by it. I loved those little stories so very much. We've lost that magic here.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think we've lost our delight in simple things. It makes me sad to see young mothers talking on their 'phones when they're out with young children. What a lost opportunity to talk and observe.
ReplyDeleteI love foxgloves and their spot painted throats. They seed themselves all over my garden so I always have them here. Little gloves for foxes paws - what a lovely thought.
ReplyDeleteFree plants - how could anyone not like them?
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