I'll be willing to bet there are plenty of red faced city officials right now!
Luckily, the error was discovered before any damage was done to the future generation! Just imagine what could have happened. Pretty damned scary, if you ask me!
I have to admit there is a little humor here. Twisted, I know...but still funny!
UK Officials Apologize After Planting Lethal Flower Next To Children's Playground
Updated: Friday, 05 Aug 2011, 12:01 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 05 Aug 2011, 7:28 AM EDT
By NewsCore
KENDAL, England - Officials in an English town were left red-faced Friday after it emerged one of the world's deadliest flowers -- used by Amazon hunters to make poison arrows -- was unwittingly planted in a public park where children play.
Staff from South Lakeland District Council mistakenly planted a number of poisonous purple-flowering monkshood flowers in a park in Kendal, northwestern England, just yards from a children's playground, local newspaper The Westmorland Gazette reported.
Local botanist Thomas Gudgeon, who first spotted the plant at Abbot Hall Park, said, "Natives of the Amazon jungle dip their arrows in the plant to kill monkeys in the trees. The monkey is dead before it hits the ground -- it's one of the world's deadliest plants."
The consequences can be fatal if the plant -- also known as wolfsbane -- is eaten and it can also cause heart complications, muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting.
The council apologized and said the flowers were planted "in error."
A spokesman said, "All the plants have been removed and disposed of in a safe manner. We would advise the public not to consume any type of natural flora as there are many different species that could be harmful to one's health if consumed."
Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/offbeat/uk-officials-apologize-after-planting-lethal-flower-next-to-childrens-playground-ncxdc-080511#ixzz1UDl5R0wo
Glad to see that even the folks in charge can own up to such a mistake and apologize! Almost gives you faith in the PTB...almost!
What say we get some fresh coffee and sit outside? We can marvel at the very act of a big wig admitting to a mistake!
6 comments:
How does that sort of mistake happen in the first place? Maybe their gardener should switch from that weak tea they drink over there to some strong coffee.
Glad the mistake was found before anything untoward happened. Have a cool day.
wow, this is good to know! We have five plants along the front of the house. Now, where can i find some monkeys to test it out on?
That story left out a LOT. Like, where did those plants come from, and how did someone with no knowledge of plants, get to do that? Scary.
Hey, maybe they were trying a new type of population control. . .
All Monkshoods are deadly to humans but most must be eaten and from what I´ve heard they taste really nasty, so no one gets enough of it to die if eating it unless they are determined to die..
I have several species in my garden and always wash my hands if I have touched them. I won´t die by touching them but I can feel a bit sick if I would have small wounds in my hand where the toxic can get in.
But this one is much worse from what I´ve heard so I have to admit that it wasn´t especially smart to have it close to children :-) :-) :-)
Have a great day!
Christer.
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