Faerie thimbles, in shades of white, pink rose, lavender and purple grow on spikes on the left side of the pathway going down to the pond. For centuries, these beautiful flowers, subject of Faerie lore, have been used in cottage gardens. An alternate name for this plant is foxglove and probably comes from an old tale about faeries distributing the plant to foxes to wear as gloves during raids on chicken coops. I prefer to call them faerie thimbles because the individual flowers are about the size and shape of a thimble. In fact, the Latin name for this plant is digitalis, which means finger. This is because the blossoms seemed designed to fit the human finger.
Other people call them Faerie Petticoats, Faerie Fingers, or Witches' Bells. Since I have two little girls who love faeries, I thought a woodland wild garden with Faerie Thimbles, would attract the faeries to my garden. Supposedly, faeries like to play within the flowers, and each dark spot inside the white blossom, marks the spot where a Faerie has touched the surface.
Planted in gardens outside one's home, folklorists believe will protect the occupants from evil influences....another good reason I think for planting Faerie Thimbles. But beware...don't pick the long spikes and bring them inside for display, the Faeries will become outraged and do "bad magick" and your gardens will wither.
But should you so desire, you can place a blossom in a charm or talisman, and Little Folks say you'll be protected with the Shining Light of Faeries. Whether this be true or false, I do not know, it is just what I have heard.
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Comments: 53
Humming birds and bees must love you.
Thanks for the flowers
Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds find my faerie thimbles irresistible.
Ah - I'll soon have some growing near the faerie wicket. (c:*
These are lovely - and I greatly enjoyed the Faerie lore that you included. I've known this plant for years and wasn't aware of the connection :)
Yesterday after Julia's piano recital, Sage was busy making faerie homes with leaves and twigs. Fun sharing folklore with the girls.
I know them as digitalis and foxglove. It's really fun to read about the rest. I have not grown them but our neighbor did when we lived in town. You've inspired me to consider planting some.
They are biennials, John...first year you just get the rosette of leaves. I was a wee bit disappointed last year when no spikes came....but look at them this year.
Yes, recall that they're biennials. Thank you, Elizabeth.
Your enchanting garden is undoubtedly full of fairies, Bob. Perhaps even a Leprechaun or two have strayed into it.
I do believe I have a few Leprechauns hanging out with the faeries, Mag.
Just lovely. Enjoyed the information on them too.
Love to read the folklore on some of these plants.
I love it! I want wee folk in my garden but I dont know if I can grow faerie thimbills in fl will have to check.
Zones 4-7 Kit....I just read you can't grow foxglove in Florida....too hot.
Huh! I always knew them as Foxglove; I had no idea about these other, fairy-related names. Interesting. Yours seem to be blooming well.
They are blooming well and they really took me by surprise. Last year I planted them from seed and I only got good-size rosette-shaped clumps of foliage....thought I had planted them in wrong location so I read up on them and realized it takes 2 years for them to bloom.
I don't believe I have ever seen any of these Bob, they are gorgeous. I think I spied a wee one hiding amongst your lovely flowers ;-)
That must have been Sage you spotted.
The woods are adorned with foxglove right now. They are so beautiful. Thankfully, the sheep don't seem to want to eat them.
Good thing...they are very poisonous....both the flowers and the foliage.
:( I read that too. says zones 4-10 except Florida! HMPH!
hi Bob - great post and photos - I planted some of those as we call them Foxgloves but not having much luck! These are really pretty! Salud
These are so beautiful - what a magical place. I've never heard them called by their Faerie name - love it!
Thanks for stopping by my faerie garden.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitalis
Digitalis Also good for the ailing heart. Snails love to eat them.
Love the pictures and love the lore...Wish I could see them in person.
I haven't seen any snails out there but with all the rain we have been having I do see a few slugs. I wonder if faeries ride snails? Now that brings a funny image to my mind.
Elizabeth ,your usual great photos and comments . I love your yard and flowers. I think you probably know that the Fairies Thimbles are a Campanula ( c . cochlearifolia ) ,what a mouthful ,huh? I've always wanted some of these ,but this variety doesn't take our Southern heat too well . I even have it on my wish list. I want to read you something that I had copied from " Hortus Third ",written by the great horticulturalist ,Liberty Hyde Bailey ,since this flower seemed to be such a favotite to you and family.
" They are eminently plants for the garden - lover, for those persons who graciously accept cool nights and soft rains and dews,who respond to the milder sensations and derive sustaining satisfactions from gentle experiences. They are for those who love to grow plants for the joy of growing them ..." . I'm fairly sure this sounds like you .
What a beautiful quote, Phil. I do enjoy growing them....such beauty in my yard gives me joy.
Lovely pictures, I think it gets too hot here for them, but really enjoyed the story behind the foxgloves
Are you in Florida?
Bob, I've known about Foxglove but am far more impressed now that the connection to the faeries has been made. You do have a beautiful stand of them.
I will plant anything if it will attract faeries to my gardens.
ur photos gave me pleasure thanks
I'm glad I gave you pleasure. Will you stay on Gather on your return to India?
They also like bluebells, daisies, violets, pansies, thyme and other herbs, lady slippers, wild roses, and honeysuckle. :) Beautiful essay on your fairy foxgloves!
:) wishing you laughter
:) as I do you, Quinn.
Ah, Quinn - straight from the faeries of Midsummer Night's Dream.
how incredibly delightful these are, i have seen them but never knew what they were. am trying to decide what to plant this year in my new garden, I will buy something and put it in our garden area....not from seed, way too late....
Featured in the The Triple Name Club
cool, they have these growing where I work and was windering what they were. now I know, thanks..
They are gorgeous Bob. I was one that totally believed in faeries when I was a child. ( I think maybe I still do. )
You just make me smile.
fairies fowers u post thanku
These are so lovely and what a delightful name I just love it Elizabeth!
I was told that when we see dragonflies that is the only way that humans are able to view faeries these days.
I like your faerie flowers. Great photos.
Thanks for all the information. I'm not familiar with these beauties at all. I'd love to see some of these in person.
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
I used to love to put my fingertips inside the "fox's glove" in my mother's garden when I was a small child. They do conjure up magical thinking and feelings of mystery in my heart of hearts to this day. Thank you, Elizabeth for sending us your lovely photo essay. We are featuring it this week at Home Comfort
An adorable story for the children and one they will remember too.
Hey Bob. It's good to see you still here. I, too, know these as foxglove and digitalis. The same digitalis that is used in heart medication. I also didn't know the story of a connection with faeries. You are always so full of such delightful information that nourishes our imaginations.
It seems to me that when I get my faerie thimbles planted near the faerie wicket, there will be a road of light for the wee ones between my garden and yours. (c:*
Lovely photos and a beautiful photo essay. I very much enjoyed this.
Loved to hear the fairy story, we have similar fairy legends in Germany and of course they are linked to witches, as they used them not just for heart medication, but also for murdering husbands. Their common name is fingerhut which mean - finger hat:)
I saw some for sale at the annual green thumb festival here in Florida, but I resisted. Now that I see your beautiful patch I wish I would have at least tried, I do have one shady spot they might possibly like. I tried them one year, but the poor things quicly withered and died.
I know it's too hot for them in Florida, but they come out with new varieties all the time. The ones they had were huge and such lovely colors, I really was tempted but I just took some pic instead:).
I love faeries and Digitalis~
Nice story! Great yard.
Id love to have that many in my flower bed, thanks for posting to Photos in Bloom