I am Captivated and Entranced with Foxglove , also known as Witches Thimbles! What is it about them that speaks to me? I loved them growing up, they seemed to be magical in some way and they emit such soft, quiet beauty!
They are a must-have for me! I think massive rows and rows of them are stunning! If you have the space, a nice flock of Foxglove is a divine sight to behold!
Foxglove has a wonderful staying power! Well, at least for me it does. It has a long blooming period and is content, pretty quiet and doesn't seem to need much care. It also is totally self-sufficient and stays in bloom for a good few weeks. Long blooms are always a good thing!
There is a special designated space in my garden dedicated to these Charming Freckle-faced Witches and Phantom Foxes..(gloves and all..thimbles and all...metaphors and all)..and they are most welcome to build a Kingdom and expand their vision as far as I am concerned!
My sister, who lives a few hours away from me, has the most beautiful variety I have seen, in her garden. I cannot recall the name in the moment, but it is so gorgeous! It even is a bit furry upon looking closer. It's large blooms have a unique Apricot Hue..just gorgeous! It feels soft to the touch, like it is full of tiny hairs or feathery skin! She has generously promised some to me ..so I cannot wait to welcome this newest member in! And if you are reading this Sis, you are quite welcome to any of mine too!
True Dilemna? or Just "Fuss-Nonsense"...Please Tell Me If you Know !
I have to admit I am not always quite sure what to do with Foxgloves after they bloom! So many different references suggest different things. If you want rebloom.. cut down the stem. Others say, don't allow it to go to seed etc..some say "Leave it"..some say: "cut down the middle stem for rebloom." Hmmm!
What has worked for you? I'd love to hear about your Foxglove adventures!
One thing I do know, is that this Foxglove Family never disappoints me. Their Energy and Spirit is strong and tall and Explodes in Beauty.
Foxglove is an Option for Shade Gardeners:
The other wonderfully awesome feature that Foxglove does offer..is that if you have shady areas that you cannot get away from and don't know what to plant (and crave flowers)..Foxglove is the answer. It will grow easily and joyfully and proudly.
And if you are one who feels the dilemna of shady spaces..it is like bringing the Sun back in the dark..with loads of color, speckles and character!
I love foxglove..always will. I will never tire of these beautiful souls and they can decorate my shady spaces (and even the sunny ones) forevermore.
I feel part Good-Witch, part Clever Fox..so they perhaps fit right in with my little Magical Gardenscape! Perhaps I have Foxglove Spirit within me and that is why they dazzle me so!
How about you? Do you have the Heart of a Witch and cleverness of the Wise Fox?
How I love their sweet speckled faces and how I miss them all winter long !
Soon though, while the ground fills with snow..I know there will be Foxgloves green and growing beneath and waiting for spring. My little flower-spirits, I patiently await another summer filled with your radiant whimsy.
A Spark of Joyful Blessings from the Foxglove Kingdom and I send Bright Wishes to all the Good Witches out there with Freckled Thimbles, Hearts of Gold and Foxglove Charm.
Kiki~ Awake with Charm and Spirit
21 comments:
I've really enjoyed reading through your blog! I'd never heard of Foxglove referred to as Witches Thimbles before. They are definitely a favorite of mine.
I have just purchased a Foxglove this year, no blooms yet. I hope next summer? I love this post you did about them and the photos were superb
Rosey
wow lovely blooms. I still wonder why it is called Witches Thimbles. We grow this plant as spring annual. It does not suit very well to our climate. I got some seed from abroad and will plant in november. Thanks for doing this wonderful post.
Hi Catherine, I am glad you enjoyed visiting here, you are welcome anytime. Also nice to find a Foxglove kindred!
Hi Rosey Pollen
Thankyou so much for your kind words! I hope your Foxglove blooms next summer! Wishing you luck! Glad you love Foxglove too!Yay!
Hi Muhammad khabbab! Thankyou so much!Hope your foxglove does well! Yes, different names of plants are interesting! Thanks for visiting and sharing your experience.
Kiki!!! Love your Foxglove blog... thanks to you for introducing me to this wonderous spirit!
The foxglove you were describing from my garden is called Digitalis x mertonensis (Classic Elegance). I've also seen it referred to as Strawberry Foxglove.
I look forward to sharing this variety with you in the spring!
Can't wait!
L~girl
L-girl! Yay...you made it in for a visit! I am glad you enjoyed this post and hey.. thanks so much for naming the mystery variety I have fallen for! yay!! It is the best Foxglove I have ever seen! Can't wait!Bye for now sis!
I love foxgloves. There is a wood near my home in Wiltshire where they grow wild in their hundreds and look so enchanting. The bees adore them too.
I discovered this year that there are some people collecting seed and growing some wonderful mutations of them too, where the top flower is a rosette rather than a bell, they are stunning! After seeing them in a garden and falling in love I did a bit of research and discovered that I was not the only one that thought they were special http://transatlanticplantsman.typepad.com/transatlantic_plantsman/2008/05/a-spectacular-newold-foxglove-1.html
Hi Rothschild Orchid!Wow, thankyou for sharing! I am so happy you are a Foxglove Kindred too, Yay! wow, the place you decribed sounds super enchanting, Id love to see that! or a picture! Thanks so much for the link, pretty cool! A Fascinating plant species!Thanks again for sharing with us all and for the link!Wishing you the magic of foxglove in your garden forever!
I like your blog, these are great pictures! Whitney's Random Ideas
Kiki! I visited your blog twice today, and wondered about the black background with such hard-to-read letters but didn't want to be rude about it, so I just looked at the photos. The last time, I left the window open while I was checking something else. When I returned a few minutes later, it was transformed into a background that looks like white birch. Did you change you template, or have I just not been waiting for the blog to load? Now I'm wondering how many blogs I've bypassed because their backgrounds start out black when I should have waited for the pretties to load?
I am also captivated by Foxglove and didn't know it was called Witches Thimbles! Gorgeous photos!
Hi WhitneyB99, thankyou for stopping by!
Hi Nell Jean, Thanks for letting me know and for stopping by! I guess it takes a moment or so to fully load! Thanks for letting me know!Much appreciated!
Hi anartistsgarden! Yay, glad to find another Foxglove Kindred! Yes I love the Witches Thimbles name too, and I think also Fairy Gloves I have heard too. Names are fascinating to me! THanks for stopping by! I appreciate it.
I remember reading years ago that Foxgloves were called witches thimbles ... for they fit so well over the fingers... not sure why witches... perhaps digitalis being an herb... they do like good drainage and you have a great bounty there. I let them go to seed and then cut the stalks and leave them near the plant... they do bloom again and I am assured a new crop as these are biennials. Lovely photos!
Hello Carol! Wow, thankyou so much for sharing your expertise and experience!Thankyou for visiting and for complimenting my photos.
Yay, you love them too and also knew of their other name and thankyou for sharing your wisdom on the meaning!
I also thuoght perhaps becuase it is also considered a dangerous and poisonous plant as well as Healing plant medicinally for the heart! Names sure are curious things!
Drop by anytime! Thankyou for sharing your method of care for this plant! Greatly appreciated!Excellent!!
Witches Thimbles is a new name for me, Kiki ... thanks for the info and good photos. Grew Foxglove (Digitalis) many years ago ... a short-lived perennial (biennial), it finally gave way to other garden goodies. I work with such gusto digging & dividing each spring, I'm sure I disturbed any hope of re-seeding.
Hi joey!Thanks for stopping in!I appreciate all your comments and sharing your Foxglove experience!Yes so mnay goodies to choose from in the garden world!!Thanks again!
Hi! Nice to meet a foxglove lover! There were several stories about foxgloves on my blog. They are native here, in the NW. This year, they selfseeded everywhere (I needed to collect seeds to share with other gardeners and let them stay longer). I need to thin them out. Usually, I cut them down or pull them out before they seed. Anyway,they do their job and reproduce themselve every year. They will rebloom if you cut them down, although the plants will be much shorter. Happy gardening to you!
Hi Tatyana@MySecretGarden
Yay, glad you love Foxglove too. Wow, thankyou for sharing your gardening experience with Foxglove and expertise! Excellent!Much appreciated, I really enjoyed that! You have been a great help!
Visit anytime!
you have some beautiful colors here - a wonderful selection. I just planted some in my new perennial garden with a great name - mystic something or other. I believe it's a shorter foxglove. I hope it will come back in the spring!
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