Okay, I applied for a balance transfer card, got the ladder from my neighbors, changed a lightbulb, hung up my smoke/CO2 alarm, researched coupon sites, updated my budget software, scooped tub at pans, washed some dishes, and deposited a check. I have earned my alcohol and sushi.

I'd known that datura is dangerous, although I'd never seen it in person. These I'm assuming are the less dangerous brugmansia; my boss, who's an avid gardener, says that their trumpets point down, datura flowers point up.

Yeah, datura is one of those mysterious poisons that seem to show up in mid-century mystery novels.

I grew up thinking datura were ground plants in the desert. Flowers look like that but up. And on a ground plant. But, yes, not a safe thing. And clearly there are different kinds of datura now that I look.

I always pictured datura as looking more like morning glories or bindweed.

As I understand it, the species are hard to tell apart. Both have poisonous alkaloids and I think the brugmansia are the ones used by South American tribes as a hallucinogen. I wouldn't want to snack on either.

Ooh, mystery plants. Who can tell me what this is? [link]

They're full size trees. This pic was taken as the flowers began to wilt some so they're a little droopier and browner but both leaves and flowers do hang down anyway. The smell divine. There's a whole row of them by the park and the three or four weeks when they're in bloom is fantastic.

The things one learns on b.org! Love the afternoon botany lesson, esp as I've sometimes wondered about those flowers myself.

But it also kinda makes me sad--I mean, when I was born I still had two great-grandparents around, and while one grandparent died when I was about 10, the others all died while I was in college. So I had time with them, and remember them well. But if I have kids, no great-grandparents for them, and given that my dad turns 72 today (and is not in great shape) who knows if they'd even know their grandfather? Sad.

I used to wonder/worry about this as an older mom, but then it occurred to me that my grandmother (mom's side) died when my mom was 9, and my grandfather (dad's side) died when I was 2. My parents were 18 and 19 when I was born. This stuff just happens, whether you/your parents are young or old. You just gotta live your life, you know?

I love brugmansia. I ordered one l through the mail last year which was just a stick with some draggle-ass roots and it is now two feet tall and covered in leaves. I don't think we'll have flowers until next year, though.