Fairy Gloves
&quot;The name foxglove is a very ancient one and exists in a list of plants as old as the time of Edward III. The &quot;folks&quot; of our ancestors were the fairies and nothing is more likely than that the pretty coloured bells of the plant would be designated &quot;folksgloves,&quot; afterwards,&quot;foxglove.&quot; In Wales, it is declared to be a favourite lurking-place of the fairies, who are said to occasion a snapping sound when children, holding one end of the digitalis bell, suddenly strike the other on the hand to hear the clap of fairy thunder, with which the indignant fairy makes her escape from her injured retreat.&quot;

According to the 19th century book, English Botany, Or, Coloured Figures of British Plants

(Click on image to check for possible lurking fairies. But here in the Northwoods it would more likely be a tick!)
 
texture digitalis foxglove pinkflowers minnesotagardens