The Poison Garden.
Consider this a sneak preview of a brief scene that will appear in my next book, which should be ready for public consumption before the end of the year. I just had to write about a place in the UK where all of the plants and trees are toxic, some downright deadly. Here’s the scoop on the aptly named Poison Garden.
“THESE PLANTS CAN KILL”
Northumberland, the northernmost county in England, is located on the border of Scotland. In addition to being a bastion of British history, the county is home to the vast Alnwick Garden—actually, multiple gardens within its boundaries. To name a few: the Rose Garden, the Ornamental Garden, the Forgotten Garden, the Serpent Garden, and—of course—the immensely popular Poison Garden.
Biohazard suits are necessary to handle some of the most toxic plants.
The promotional literature says that the Poison Garden “…is home to more than 100 toxic, intoxicating, and narcotic plants.” It sits behind a black iron gate with signs that contain a skull and crossbones and the words, “These Plants Can Kill.” You have to enter with a guide, and not before you’ve had a safety briefing. You can’t touch, taste, or even smell anything. (Why would you want to?)
The Guinness Book of World Records lists the castor bean plant, which contains ricin, as the world’s most poisonous plant. Yep, it’s in the Poison Garden. So is the laburnum tree, the second-most poisonous tree in the UK, which many folks have in their yards because of its lovely yellow flowers. And if you mess with a plant called the cherry laurel, like trimming it, you’ll be exposed to cyanide gas and likely buy the farm if you’re in an enclosed space. Who knew? That is why, when tending to some of the plants located here, staffers must wear biohazard suits.
BROOMSTICK TRAINING
Alnwick Castle, aka Hogwarts.
The Alnwick Garden gift shop offers a book titled Poison Garden A-Z of Poisonous Plants, in case you want to learn if any of the plants or trees around your own house may try to do you in. And if you’re so inclined, the gift shop sells bottles of Alnwick Poison Garden Gin and Poison Garden Rhubarb Vodka. I may have to think twice about that.
So if you’re ever in or near northern England, check out the Poison Garden. Lots of information on the Alnwick Garden website.
Oh, and one more thing. A path from the Alnwick Garden leads to the nearby Alnwick Castle, a must see. What, you’ve never heard of Alnwick Castle? Maybe you know it by one of its other names: Hogwarts. Yep, it appeared as the wizarding school in some of the Harry Potter films, most notably where they staged the quidditch matches. You can sign up there for Broomstick Training. (For real.) And if you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you’ll also recognize the castle. Check out their website for more information.
You too can participate in Broomstick Training.