I’ve spent many years now photographing the stunning and exotic wild Foxgloves (Digitalis Purpurea) on the lane here. So when I started this blog 2 years ago I named it after them. A regular feature of childhood games, magical drawings in fairy stories and romantic cottage gardens, Foxgloves are an annual blissful treat.
Being biennial, where they will bloom each season remains a last moment surprise. Last year the local council sprayed a large corner on the main road and to my amazement dozens of Foxgloves flowered there in the bare ditch.
Those dormant verges have harboured the wild things during winter. Suddenly all has been revealed again this month in great abundance. Best of all they have scattered themselves all over my wild garden, getting closer to the front door every year.
The mystery and beauty of wild flowers is an endless fascination. The survival of so many Foxgloves in spite of agricultural “progress” and pesticide spraying here and there, is also an inspiration. Resilience, adaptation, showy blooming…….I like to think that’s me too…….except maybe for the showy blooming!!
Read more about Foxgloves on the Kew Gardens site here
I really love foxgloves and have some beautiful white ones – your images are amazing with the bees.
Wonderful images of the foxgloves with bees. We have them in our gardens and I love them selfseeding every year and coming up on various places, but in your country they also grow in the wild, even more beautiful.
Beautiful images! Really love that last one! I just want to follow him!
Fabulous photos – a real celebration of this wonderful plant. There is a lovely section on Digitalis purpurea in a book I'm reading at the moment called "weeds, weeding (& Darwin) by William Edmonds. I suspect it is a book you may enjoy.
Beautiful images of the Foxgloves,Catherine. I prefer the name my Dad gave them long ago….Fairy Thimble Bells !! I acquired some seeds 2 years ago while on holiday in Kerry, and 1 plant from a West Cork hedgerow a few months ago. I succeeded in germinating 3 plants from the Kerry seeds and the 4 plants are now coming along nicely in my Fairy Garden. I cannot wait to save their seeds and sow/plant more around my garden…..I Love Fairy Thimble Bells 🙂
I joined your blog just the other day and I can very well understand why you named it after this plant. Great photos! I hope I'll be able to see these growing wild one day. Here they can be found in gardens only and the common name translates 'thimble flower'. The red with a hint of blue might just be my favourite colour.
Just stunning photos…must be the love! The bee shots are fantastic. Thanks so much
I remember seeing these flowers on the side of the road when I visited Ireland and was amazed at their beauty and that deep color. How lucky to have this wildflower coming nearer every year as you blossom and grow as well.
Lovely shots Catherine… I've been enjoying my foxgloves by my bedroom window and watching the bees coming and going… bliss!! Cx
Does it get any better than this? I don't think so! And two bees in one photo ~ pretty special. Remember we were flying in opposite directions recently Catherine? So while you were in Sydney I was enjoying the very early stages of foxgloves in the English Lakes. I am sure that they, like yours, will be in full bloom by now.
I have never seen wild foxgloves, it must be such a pretty place.
I adore foxgloves and your photos are just beautiful. I tried to grow some from seed but it didn't work and then yesterday I found a lone one in the garden! I was ridiculously happy about it : )
I never realized they were biennials. There you go – live and learn – each and every new day. They're gorgeous…YES!
Hello Catherine
You captured the foxgloves in all their splendor. They warm the heart. I had some in my garden at our farm, here in Canada and they were not easy. I suspect I was at fault in weeding the little ones.
Have a wonderful summer
Helen xx
Catherine , how absolutely beautiful . I also so love the way you set the scenes with your very interesting and informative stories.
Your photography is simply phenomenal.
I play with my cell phone camera often and love sharing photos …but you …you are a true photographer and your efforts with your camera are sublime.
Sincerely,
Willow
That looks a perfect way of spending an evening amongst the foxgloves. I was trying to photograph the one in our garden yesterday and couldn't get a good image. You have inspired me to try again! The ones with the bees are amazing.
Sarah x
Truly beautiful images Catherine. Just today I noticed some foxgloves had popped up in a place I've never seen them before and marvelled at their tenacity … they're half way up a sandstone cliff!
I don't have any foxgloves in my garden here but yours remind me of an American native, the penstemon. Gorgeous photos! I remember reading children's books where foxgloves were used by fairies and wildlife in a variety of funny ways. It's still fun to think about as an adult. :o)
Beautiful photos, Catherine. I popped over from Facebook after I saw some of them crop up in my feed there. Not a lot of foxglove around here, but lots and lots down in West Cork yesterday. I love them!