In the poison garden there are all matter of flora and fungi ready to do a person in.
Beauties to be sure but killers just the same.
Don’t mistake toxin for edible. You must be certain.
Pigskin Puffballs may give you another chance after a night of vomiting
but you won’t regain consciousness after convulsing if you consume Moonseed.

White Snakeroot grows in the shadows of the forest
and will claim you with weakness and coma.
Ghostly Destroying Angels decorate the edges and will destroy your liver.
Cheery red Yew berries whose flesh you can eat
but swallow just one seed and succumb to a heart attack.
Hellebore will cause extreme diarrhea.
So will Spurge; irritating and burning all the way down.
Datura will bring on delirium then cast you into a coma.
Deadly Galerina will cause kidney failure. Within 7 days you’re a goner.

Are you sure you want to invite such poisonous beings into your midst?

If the apocalypse comes it’ll be vital to know friend from foe.
But a foe can be friend when respected and turned on an enemy.
Wolfsbane darts will bring a murderer down.
Unwanted company?
Offer up candied apples dipped in Fool’s Parsley.
Or serve Water Hemlock tea. It was good enough for Socrates.
Fear a break in? Keep a knife by your bed, dipped in Belladonna.
She’ll make the would-be rapist pay with his life.
Dealing with an occupation?
Spread Giant Hogweed in their bedsheets and make them scream.
Make a Pokeberry pie and give your overlords gastrointestinal distress.
Add in Honeysuckle berries for good measure.
Make a killer stew with Jack-o-lanterns, not the pumpkin, the mushroom kind.

Take heed my pretties,
Wear gloves when working in this garden
Just one touch can be enough.

Copyright 2025, Arianna Alexsandra Collins
Part of The Poison Garden zine, October’s Ashfield Spice and Herb Club’s “spice” of the month. Ashfield Spice and Herb Club is a project of the Belding Memorial Library.

Want to learn more about The Poison Garden? You can visit Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, UK. Or watch the video HERE.