Heracleum Metnegazzianum

Cherry

By Ed Crane

Tue, 06 May 2025
  • 625 reads
9 comments
 

A mass of pure white blooms 

parachute a hidden menace: 

Look but don’t touch! 

Admire from a safe distance. 

A Caucasian invader brought

to titivate the tastes of rich

gardens in less cautious times.

 

Ten foot stands march across

continents insidious in it’s spread 

Dramatised within Gebriel’s 

frenetic lyrics rustling up crimes

in a nursery, both for plant 

and child. She will burn if you  

step out in the sunshine 

when you succumb to her kiss.

 

Once considered a gorgeous

friend down graded to toxic 

invader she reminds us of a 

lesson we have yet to learn.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSkgwCpuZwk

Certificate PG
Poem
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You captivated me with your poem Ed. It went so well with the music, especially in the second stanza.

Thank you for your poem and reminding me what spellbinding music Peter Gabriel and Genesis created. Brought back so many happy memories, putting a smile on my face. smiley

You made my day.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I have that album, but I haven't listened to it for a long time. I liked Genesis, but I always felt the best music was when Peter was the lead singer.

While I was writing this I remembered the song, so I decided to provide the link since it tell the story of Giant Hogweed so well

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I'm not sure I've seen the giant one, but heard  much about it. I gather war is waged on it, there was a concern about it's stems being used as blowpipes for children with awful blistering result.

By parachute do you mean the whole inflorescence looks like a parachute. The individual seeds don't have parachutes do they? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I've seen it when I lived in Norfolk a long time ago before it was recognised as a dangerous plant. It is pretty impressive.

Parachute I was referring to the shape of the flower head. I think you have to report it if you see one these days.

Funny thing, deadly poisonous Oleander is not banned in Europe unlike South Afriica. Also Euphorbia, found in most gardens, will burn skin if it has contact with the sap. 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I didn't realise children were being injured by them - that's so sad! I thought it was just banned because it was so invasive!

A very good IP response - thank you Ed

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

but of course being dangerous for kid doesn't help.

I havn't seen one for many years, Like I said to Prhia I think they havr to be reported to the authorities now.

Not sure about here in Belgium, but I've not seen one here and I live vry near to a rive where they usually do well.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Hadn't realised they get so tall! They really are giants, but from googling not as pretty as ordinary hogweed, so I wonder if it was just the size that gardeners admired. I like how you describe them marching across continents :0)

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Yes they are enormous. I have seen them, but not for a very long time. The flower head is pretty impressive. 

The only thing around here is hedge parsley. 

Got a couple of very loud cookoos in the trees across the river though. I can even hear then through the double glazing in the mornings. Odd looking birds.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I am glad you have cuckoos, was thinking the other day that should have heard the one in the woods by now. You mention euphorbia - that's dreadful for blisters, isn't it? But very good for bees :0)