Rainy Day in Oregon

By jerispics

Soon....

This is a foxglove. Digitalis purpurea. Not quite blooming yet. Will blip again when in full bloom.

The heart drug digitalis is derived from this plant and is used by people suffering from heart disease.

A fanciful explanation for the common name is that the finger-like flowers are 'gloves for foxes,' possibly because they grow in disturbed soil favored by foxes for denning. An old tale has it that bad fairies gave the flowers to the fox to wear so that he could steal silently around the chicken coop.

I have not planted any foxgloves around my yard. Because we live in a wooded area and I am a poor gardener they plant themselves. I let them stay.

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