The Deadliest Garden Ever

When one walks into a garden, admiring the blissful beauty of nature, lush green leaves and the plethora of colorful petals, one does not bother about fatal accidents or poisonous poppies. However, there exists one such garden which has made these poisonous plants its center of attraction.

Located in Northumberland, England, The Alnwick Garden houses a special place named The Poison Garden, which contains dozens of plants which possess toxins capable of doing away with the human body in ways that are not even possible to be conceived by the usual mind. Behind the big, black, iron gates, which have clearly written on them, " THESE PLANTS CAN KILL ", are several such plants which can kill humans with their mere smell. Severity ranges from plants which require minimum precaution to those which require a HAZMAT suit to be dealt with.

The plants here range from strikingly colorful rhododendrons to unappealing hemlock plants to the luscious laburnum tree, followed by the vicious cherry laurel, to name a few. The leaves of Prunus laurocerasus (cherry laurel) for example, contain two components (cyanogenic glycosides and cyanide ions) which are otherwise harmless, but upon coming together can prove deadly to the one pruning them, or the animal grazing on them, as it starts producing cyanide gas. Hellebores are another dangerously common plant here. The root has a cardiotoxin that will stop your heart, and the sap has a strong skin irritant. Another contender, the castor oil plant contains the toxin ricin, and is in The Guinness Book of World Records for being the world's most deadly plant. Such a peculiar collection of plants surely does catch a viewer's attention, although it is to be kept in mind to observe everything from a distance. Touching, tasting, picking or smelling can prove dangerous if not avoided, hence proper protection while observing is sincerely advised.

There is even a mention of the people throughout history, who used several discreet methods to finish off those they disliked by lacing food items or other objects with toxins of such plants. ' The Curry Killer ', or ' The Umbrella Murderer ' are some of such names on the walls of the garden, showcasing usage of toxins throughout history. All of the plants grown here are maintained with utmost care, and are grown after obtaining special license from the U.K.'s Home Office for growing hallucinogens. Visitors are not allowed to wander around by themselves and have to stay in a group, supervised by a professional who gives them a tour of the garden and explains about the different plants growing there.

But where did the need and idea for making such a garden come from ? And who exactly was the mastermind behind it all ? And are people really interested in watching deadly plants ?

Well, the idea for the establishment of this garden is credited to Isobel Jane Miller Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, who decided to bring her weirdly compelling, intrusive thoughts to life after her trips to the Medici poison garden in the Italian city of Padua, and other trips to the Soutra Aisle, located near the Scottish borders. Trying to make a garden unlike others, she decided to create her own version, collecting poisonous plants and carefully growing them under supervision. Opened to the public in 2005, the garden has been a hit ever since and fascinates and educates the public about the existence of such plants around them, allowing some visitors to share stories of poisonous encounters that they have had before.

In conclusion, this place is a reminder for tourists that plants can have one such facet to them, apart from all the usual things we see in our neighborhood. One must be wary of the greens they see, and yet cautiously admire the beauty that nature has to offer.