Featured in the first two Harry Potter movies, home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, and utterly deadly: Welcome to the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle.
The Alnwick Garden was designed by Jacques and Peter Wirtz and lies in the rugged north of England. Part of the estate of Alnwick Castle, the gardens feature more than 4,000 plant varieties. There's plenty to see, but hands down the most fascinating area to visit is the Poison Garden, which is packed with killer plants.
Above: The entrance to the gardens is kept firmly under lock and key except for tours. Visitors are not allowed to touch, smell, or pick any of the flowers (the most toxic blooms are kept in cages).
Above: A tunnel of ivy leading to the gardens. The Duchess of Northumberland conceived of the Poison Garden after visiting the world's oldest botanical gardens in Padua, where numerous poisonous plants are on display.
Above: A deadly floral installation.
Above: Arum italicum, a plant that has seductive orange berries.
Above: Bryonia dioica. Many toxic plants are used for curative purposes, Bryonia dioica was traditionally used as a laxative.
Above: Cannabis sativa. Possibly the only Duchess in the UK with a license to grow cocaine, marijuana, and magic mushrooms.
N.B. This is an update of a post originally published on November 2, 2012.
See our previous post on the Wirtz Family at Home in Belgium (designers of the Alnwick Garden) and more Garden Visits, spooky and otherwise. Our holiday coverage continues on Remodelista, with Halloween Decor Tips from a Master of the Dark Arts.
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