Foxglove

If you drive to the coast or Mt. Hood in the summer, you will see the familiar purple or white Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) along the way. They are non-native, two to six feet high and a favorite with hummingbirds. We spotted these yesterday at Stub Stewart State Park. They like full sun or shade and grow along trails and roadways with good exposure. Much has been written about the uses of this plant so I won't repeat here. Wikipedia has a good summary. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxglove).

They believe the name comes from the flower's resemblance to bells on a stick. Apparently this was a musical instrument of sorts in the "olden days!"