Thursday, July 29, 2010

Jimsonweed...

O.K., so here's a fun one: Datura stramonium. This plant reseeded itself from last year's plants, which reseeded themselves from seeds that came with a huge load of horse manure that I brought home. It has made itself quite at home in what was supposed to be my hummingbird garden. Maybe next year it will be my hummingbird garden.



It is a pretty flower and the plant itself is can be impressive, but it is toxic. It can kill livestock and poison people. Apparently, some use it as a hallucinogenic, which, I must say, is rather dangerous. The "Jimson" part of Jimsonweed is a variation of the name Jamestown, where the colonists found it growing. I am just learning all kinds of things from the weeds in my garden.



I meant to get them all pulled up this year, but, as you can see, I didn't. So, I am enjoying the lovely flowers until I get out my gloves - the sap is irritating - and get it pulled out. Hopefully, I'll get that done before it makes its very thorny, very full of seeds, seed-pods. And I go through this whole process again. It does look nice with the Cleome, though.


Have a beautiful day!

2 comments:

Daricia said...

it's too bad this is such a hostile plant. it really is pretty. i like your pictures of it. the beauty of weeds is under appreciated in my opinion.

Ruth said...

Yes, Daricia, many weeds are really interesting. It's too bad that some of them are dangerous or too invasive, etc. Thanks for stopping by! :) "A weed is simply a plant growing where you don't want it to."