Friday, August 26, 2011

Beguiling Beauty

"All the other colors are just colors, but purple seems to have a soul."
Uniek Swain


You may remember about a year ago I went to court, and I was horrified to find the deadly poisonous castor bean plant growing all over the front of the courthouse. That is my first two pictures. This is where the poison ricin comes from, and just one pretty bean from this plant will kill a child. Here is a link back to that post. I told the clerks of the court what it was, and this spring I was delighted to find that they had taken it all out and replaced it with these pretty stripe flowers, petunias I think. The poisonous plant was beautiful, but it's beauty was beguiling and I'm glad it's gone.


"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may beguile you with enticing words."
Colossians 2

28 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

I like that quote about purple and I agree!

Hey tat first picture looked like they were pinwheels - so pretty!

Glad they listened to you Ginny!

Karin said...

Sure agree with the quote about the color purple! Ginny, I think these are petunias - and possibly wave petunias. They seem to be our fav annual plant around here - cascading from hanging pots, raised garden beds and ornamental pots standing at the entrance to someone's house. They are prolific and so pretty. Sometimes though, they can have an aphid invasion - but then they only last a season as the first frost kills them all!

Such a very pretty photo you got of them. So glad the folks took your advice to plant something that didn't have a toxic personality, lol!

Nature Rambles said...

Oh, I remember that post! And congrats on bringing about that change at the courthouse. Poisonous plants or pretty blooms? The second is a sure winner! How beautiful the garden looks with all those petunias blooming! Vivid colours and lovely quote!

Reanaclaire said...

Good thing you mentioned to them.. it is dangerous to plant harmful plants that might kill a child..
The flowers now are so beautiful.. as u said - beguiling!

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh my goodness Ginny, I opened your blog and my eyes were thrilled to see all those beautiful petunias. It makes a stunning header.

I'm glad to hear they removed the castor plant, it's better to be safe than have someone get hurt.

Happy Weekend!

Joanne said...

I remember that post! I told my Hubby about it and he couldn't believe it was growing so free.
Thank God you said something and this year it was changed! I love the replacements!
Blessings, Joanne

Ann said...

I do remember that post and I'm glad to hear that they listened to you and changed the plants. Those look like petunias to me and they are beautiful

Ruth Hiebert said...

The Castor Bean is such a pretty plant,but,yes,very dangerous.The flowers they have now are Petunias,they were my Mother's very favourite flower.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Wow, way to instigate positive change!

♥ Helen said...

The purple flowers are so beautiful... and many?

MadSnapper said...

hope you are ok right now while I am commenting and Irene is not drowning or pounding you. not sure how close to her you are. those candy striped flowers are gorgeous and new to me. i love that purple quote, since I love purple. our yard has lots of purple, red and yellow, our 3 favorite colors for flowers.

Stephanie V said...

Gorgeous petunias! It's true that just one person can effect great change.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I see that you made a difference in the court! This purple flower is so pretty

♥●• İzdihër •●♥ said...

Purple is my fav too.But litter one.

DawnTreader said...

I remember this! Is it really a year ago? ... I was afraid at first looking at this post that petunias would turn out to be just as poisionous!!! ;) (Sigh of relief to find that was not your point!)

From the Kitchen said...

I remember that post. I'm glad to see those deadly plants replaced with the beautiful petunias.

Best,
Bonnie

Neal said...

The flowers are absolutely beautiful. I hadn't seen castor beans for years and now I've see them twice this week.

Reena said...

Ginny, love your new banner pic! It's gorgeous!
Glad you notified them and they listened! Good girl!

Shanda said...

I wouldn't know a poisonous plant if I saw one. Good thing you knew and told them.

Glenda said...

I remember that post, too! The beautiful petunias were certainly a good choice to replace the poisonous flowers. Reminds me what Jesus does for us: replaces our hearts that are "poisoned" with evil and makes us into "something beautiful."

Fred Alton said...

Yes, I remember that post. I may have found some castor bean plant in the wild today. I need to post a picture on my blog to see if you (or anyone else) might identify the plant for me. We were out squirrel hunting - but only saw one. Today was the first day.

Bobbie said...

The petunias are beautiful. My mom used to MAKE SURE all of us kids would make it to Sunday School on Mother's Day because a planted petunia would be given to each child to take home to their mothers. One of the perks of having 7 children - because that meant more petunias. She'd plant them out beside the house.

Shug said...

Ginny...you have done it again...a gorgeous header...Love these petunias.
shug

Lady Jane said...

Very Pretty Ginny... Glad you spoke up.

Unknown said...

beautiful

Rose said...

I had known that castor beans were poison, but didn't know they were that poisonous...thanks to you, I didn't plant any and I had been planning on it.

Doris Sturm said...

Those striped Petunias are stunning ....lovely and even though I loved the previous plant's foliage, it's best to be safe than sorry!

Lynn said...

Yes, I remmeber that post. Like the pretty petunas much better. Isn't it nice when good advice is actually taken? Good for you Ginny!
Blessings,
Lynn

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