Road Trip 9 Alnwick Poison Garden

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We walk down the right side of the Grand Cascade (as you look up to it), through the orchard.

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Beautiful blossom.

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Down to a little lake with a pagoda themed bird house.

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On the far side is a sculpture.

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But we are heading towards this little hut.

Ooooo wouldn’t it be wonderful to have your own Hobbit House in the garden!

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Shelves for threads and bits and bobs, and a fire in the middle so you don’t freeze when making secret Christmas things.

Dear Santa…..

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Love the name!

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The front door window reminds us of why we are really here.

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So we leave The Hovel and go through these impressive gates to

THE POISON GARDEN.

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We have to be locked in with a guide.

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Through the tunnel.

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Rhubarb

Poisonous leaves.

“Haven’t you got that?” asked Lovely Husband.

“Errr possibly.” I try not to look shifty.

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A coffin donated by the co-op to collect donations for the charity side of the gardens. Perfect with the gates.

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Castor Oil plant.

“We’ve got that in the front and back garden!”

“Err yes dear, they were there before we bought the house.”

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The garden has a special licence from the Home Office to grow 3 specimens of cannabis in a cage.

Lovely hubby raised an eyebrow questioningly.

I shook my head slightly.

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I did my best to look nonchalant and not catch Lovely Husband’s slightly paranoid eye.

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Black False Hellebore– all parts poisonous

 

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The cannabis is classified as a poison because of the addictive nature and how some people are genetically predisposed to schitzophrenia  if they take it.

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Our guide was saying how a lady in one of his tours shared how her son was just one such person, and that it had wrecked his life.

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Water dropwort.

Plant looks like celery and the roots like white carrot.

I’m surprised Agatha Christie didn’t write something involving it.

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Datura

Hallucinagenic delusions and death.

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“I would’ve noticed that one” Lovely husband reassures himself.

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Snowdrops

Poisonous bulbs.

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 Rosemary

“You do lamb in that one!” he says developing a nervous tick.

“Yeah but you’d need tonnes of the stuff to get the acids to have an effect.”

I had several sideways looks from the man after that. Ah well if it means he cooks and I have some time to craft, he can get as paranoid as he likes. 🙂

Tee hee! I knew poisons had their uses.

Seriously though it is worth knowing if you have any poisonous plants if you have little ones visiting.


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