{"id":5996,"date":"2020-06-24T15:14:33","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T19:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.167.168.176\/~phillips\/kerriansnotebook\/kerriansnotebook\/?p=5996"},"modified":"2025-04-09T11:04:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T15:04:41","slug":"kn-p-259-poison-gardens-here-and-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/2020\/06\/kn-p-259-poison-gardens-here-and-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"KN, p. 259 “Poison Gardens, Here and Abroad”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Pokeweed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our Carolina cousins have an enthusiastic love of gardening, so hauling dirt and digging holes for their plants is part of our semi-annual visits. As an extra bonus, Sheila enjoys learning about the Southern flower and tree varieties that our chilly Northern weather prevents us from growing.<\/span><\/p>\n

This last visit was busier than usual after I noticed quite a few poisonous plants that cuz had added to the garden areas. I mentioned my discoveries about foxglove and a few other attractive specimens and we came up with a landscaping design that would feature their own choices in a special section, nestled up against the deadly oleander. We got busy and transplanted the varieties, gloved up and wearing long sleeves and pants while doing the work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of the ones we placed in the poison grouping, along with the effects of the plants on humans when not handled properly. There is a mixture of sun and shade during the day in this area, so many of these plants are shade loving or at least shade tolerant under all the pines and in the intense summer heat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Azalea<\/strong> \u2013 all parts of the bush are toxic and can cause progressive paralysis<\/span><\/p>\n

Bleeding Heart<\/strong> \u2013 leaves and roots toxic in large quantities<\/span><\/p>\n

Chrysanthemums<\/strong> \u2013 leaves and flowers can cause blisters, diarrhea, nausea, lack of coordination<\/span><\/p>\n

Foxglove<\/strong> \u2013 all parts toxic, but berries especially poisonous and can kill<\/span><\/p>\n

Geraniums<\/strong> \u2013 handling the plants can cause irritation<\/span><\/p>\n

Holly trees<\/strong> \u2013 eating the berries can cause death in children
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\nHydrangea<\/strong> \u2013 leaves and flowers can cause convulsions and coma if ingested<\/span><\/p>\n

Iris<\/strong> \u2013 underground stems cause severe digestive upset
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\nLantana<\/strong> \u2013 unripened berries can cause difficulty breathing or death if ingested<\/span><\/p>\n

Lily of the Valley<\/strong> – can cause death in children if any part is eaten
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\nOleander<\/strong> \u2013 all parts are toxic and can kill
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\nPeonies<\/strong> \u2013 eating flowers and seeds can cause tremors, severe diarrhea, and vomiting<\/span><\/p>\n

Pokeweed<\/strong> \u2013 all parts of the plant are toxic, and it gets deadlier as it gets bigger and older<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hydrangea<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why have all these poisonous plants? With the variety of colors, leaf textures, and overlapping blooming schedules, that area of the yard is a constant source of enjoyment for people and the bees. The cousins don\u2019t have pets or young children, so there are no safety concerns, other than always wearing gloves (and sometimes long sleeves) when caring for the garden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some toxicity information is from www.thespruce.com<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most famous poison gardens in the world can be found in the Alnwick Castle Gardens in Northumberland, England. In the late 1990s, the Duchess was tasked with improving the neglected landscaping. Rather than repeating the layout found in other famous gardens, she created a poison garden, where every one of the 100 toxic plants has the ability to kill you. The reason for her decision? She thought it would be much more interesting on the tours to chat about what was deadly, rather than what was merely pretty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finished in 2005, many are considered cottage garden plants, since they are found in ordinary gardens around the country. Most people just are not aware of how deadly the plants can be, but the workers wear gloves and sometimes full Tyvek suits while working with the specimens. Below is a partial list of the lethal flowers and shrubs in the Alnwick Poison Garden<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/a>
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Alnwick Poison Garden<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n