smokingboot

At last! A post that isn't about studio disasters or how tired I am!

This past weekend was peaceful and gorgeous; sunshine, a couple of bits and pieces thrown on the barbie (not the doll, though that would be interesting) time spent with excellent friends...my heart is satisfied and light. And my stomach was satisfied too, though not quite as light. After the bbq, we rested a while and moved onto a japanese restaurant, where, as well as ubiquitous and delicious sushi, we got to try a luscious fish broth very new to me. And the night rolled on in conversation, and I went to bed very happy.

Yesterday, I went to the garden centre; Have you noticed how dangerous these are after rain? I found the rosebed and was instantly conquered by a velvet crimson strongly scented rose...she's a proper rose, fragrant with thorns...now I have her, I don't know what to do with her. I also bought a fiery little rose bush of the floribunda kind, with pretty flame bright flowers. I don't know what to do with her either. And a tiny sunflower. They also sell Agapanthii (agapanthuses?) which I love but don't know how to keep. Things have to be pretty tough to survive this garden. And then I found a flower of great curiousity;

It looked like a half-melted lily and had what can only be described as an air of great malevolence to it. Closed, the petals looked as if their opening would reveal something viscous and vicious within; these surely are Hastur's flowers. I looked at the name: 'Datura'. I have heard of it before. In Wade Davis' book The Serpent and the Rainbow in which he searches for the material components of the famed zombie poison he speaks of Datura..."It is a plant that has been called the drug of choice of poisoners, criminals and black magicians throughout the world. its name is Datura, the holy flower of the North Star." (p.35)

Respected by many tribes, used in various shamanic practices, it was described by Davis as inducing "Maddening hallucinations and delusions, followed by confusion, disorientation and amnesia. Excessive doses resulted in stupor and death." (p.39) one species, datura stramonium, is known on Haiti as the zombi's cucumber.

No sign of zombies or cucumbers, but I was fascinated by a plant that so clearly signalled 'I am a very bad idea' even in the shape of its petals. The UK has poisonous plants enough, (Datura's relatives include such home grown favourites as henbane and belladonna) and both have warnings 'in their faces' so to speak, but Datura is the one that looks downright grinningly malign, a happy haven for mini-facehuggers. It's a very interesting plant and I really wanted to bring it home, but I fear for the two furry idiots currently bouncing around our garden. Zombie neighbours I don't mind, zombie cats I can do without.

Here's what Datura looks like:

http://biotech.tipo.gov.tw/plantjpg/1/Datura%20metel.jpg

http://ohric.ucdavis.edu/photos/fullsize/Brugmansia2.jpg

http://www.1adventure.com/archives/images/14360018--sacred-datura-2.jpg

and here's that cucumber, also called thorn apple and doom apple:

http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_photos/datura_stramonium_thorn_apple_fr.jpg