Lots of foxgloves in the garden outside. Very pleasant they are too.
But why call them foxgloves? Anyone ever seen a fox wearing gloves? I suspect most foxes would consider gloves something of a hinderance.
How would they get them on, lacking as they do an opposable thumb? They’d have to help one another pull the gloves on with their teeth, which makes flower-based gloves a no-no. The petals would tear immediately.
I can see some benefits to glove-wear for foxes, though. Surely it’d help eliminate their scent trail, thus reducing the chances of attack from the packs of dogs that roam around with those fella on the horses. You know, the ones with red coats, horns and private incomes.
That said, since foxes mark their territories with scent the gloves would become a handicap in the “that’s my tree no it’s not it’s my tree” stakes.
Perhaps the foxes could be convinced to use post-it notes to mark their ranges. Again, lack of thumbs would be an issue but perhaps an enterprising bod could create some kind of back-mounted post-it dispenser for foxes, allowing them to simply rub against countryside objects and automatically adhere a pink, blue or yellow square against said object.
Now we’ve got that sorted out, I shall turn my attention to the pressing issue of Mittens for Kittens.
Now, why would Kittens want Mittens…?
7 Comments
When I was about 6 I collected bees from foxgloves by placing a sock over the flower. I then inserted said bee through a small gap in the zip of a tent we had set up in the garden. by the end of the morning the tent was a heaving mass of serious bee-anger. Now why would a small boy do that?
Who was in the tent?
Or, who was due to walk unsuspecting into the tent at some later point?
Well luckily no one, it had been set up as some kind of fun summery nonsense. It still features in the religious teachings of many Bee colonies across the country. A version of hell their clerics use to maintain the rigid discipline required in the honey sweatshops.
Of all the arthropoda, bees are the one species that I can believe *do* have a religion. They somehow set themselves apart from the other animals, don’t they? Hive mind, and all that.
I’m not falling for that Bee of Borg nonsense. Bees are bimbling missionaries at best. They rarely do anything communal unless high on sugar or prodded with a stick. Classic missionary behaviour.
As for the foxgloves. Well, I believe the name is derived from the vixen’s propensity to cover her right paw in petals (the other paw being reserved for curtsying to the Queen Bee) when in heat.
But your vulpen mileage may vary. Thanks for the comment, as ever, I.
Surely bees are *always* high on sugar?
Re the comment; just to say that it’s not in lieu of a proper response to your writings what I am receipt of. It’s just that…well, it’s just that.
I have to strongly disagree, Bee’s are the most mysterious, philosophical and altruistic zen being on the planet.
All that bashing into the window a thousand times – decoy!