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Wicked Plants
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities | Amy Stewart
111 posts | 78 read | 3 reading | 125 to read
A tree that sheds poison daggers; a glistening red seed that stops the heart; a shrub that causes paralysis; a vine that strangles; and a leaf that triggered a war. In Wicked Plants, Stewart takes on over two hundred of Mother Natures most appalling creations. Its an A to Z of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend. Youll learn which plants to avoid (like exploding shrubs), which plants make themselves exceedingly unwelcome (like the vine that ate the South), and which ones have been killing for centuries (like the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother). Menacing botanical illustrations and splendidly ghastly drawings create a fascinating portrait of the evildoers that may be lurking in your own backyard. Drawing on history, medicine, science, and legend, this compendium of bloodcurdling botany will entertain, alarm, and enlighten even the most intrepid gardeners and nature lovers.
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SpookyDonut
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Pickpick

I loved this. I love plants, so learning about all the terrible ones has been a ton of fun. My ADHD brain really appreciates that the information is handed to you in small educational chunks unlike some other reference books. Definitely recommend if you have any interests in plants or devious nature.

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SpookyDonut
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Ratbane (“the poison that keep on killing”)
This poison is so strong that it only takes 1 minute after ingestion to kill a mammal.
In 2004, this poison attracted attention when it was used by a mysterious serial killer to wipe out scores of animals at the São Paulo zoo.

Y‘all, I had never heard of this case before and I looked up some articles on it and it is absolutely wild. From what I can gather, they never captured who did it. #deadlyplants

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SpookyDonut
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Peyote cactus (lophophora williamsii): When Spanish missionaries arrived in the New World, they observed the ritual use of the peyote cactus by Native Americans and called it witchcraft. #peyote #peyotecactus #illegalplants #wickedplants #witchcraft

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SpookyDonut
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Hellebore
The First Sacred War (595-585 BC) is believed by some historians to have been won after a Greek military alliance poisoned the water supply of the city of Kirrha with hellebore. This would have been one of the first instances of chemical warfare in recorded history. #hellebore #dangerousplants #deadlyplants #wickedplants #history #istockphoto #lentenrose #christmasrose

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SpookyDonut
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Cogon grass‘s weapon of choice is fire. It lures fire into a meadow and sets it loose on the competition, encouraging it to burn hotter and brighter than it otherwise would. Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, fresh young cogon blades spring from the charred remains of the roots and grows stronger than ever. Who knew that grass could be devious? #wickedplants #cogongrass #learningnewthings #dangerousplants #deadlyplants

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SpookyDonut
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Henbane (hyoscyamus niger)
Pliny the Elder wrote that the various strains of henbane “trouble the braine, and put men beside their right wits, beside that, they breed dizziness of the head.” #wickedplants #henbane #dangerousplants #deadlyplants #intoxicatingplants #poisongarden

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SpookyDonut
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Habanero Chili (Capsicum Chinense) #wickedplants #habanero #dangerousplants #painfulplants

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SpookyDonut
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SpookyDonut
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Second read of the new year. #wickedplants #poisongarden

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BookwormAHN
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome cover 💚🖤 13mo
Eggs Lovely 🖤💚🖤 13mo
27 likes2 comments
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BookwormAHN
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Thank you so much @KaylasReadingNook I love the books you picked out. I just tried the chocolate and it us fantastic. I'm looking forward to trying the Twix topping 😻
#AHRS #AllHallowsReadSwap
@MaleficentBookDragon thank you for hosting 🐈‍⬛️

AllDebooks I love Amy Stewart 13mo
KaylasReadingNook I‘m so glad you love it! 😄 I can‘t wait to hear what you think of the seasoning, it sounds so good! 😄 happy spooky reading! 😄 13mo
51 likes3 comments
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MatchlessMarie
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I think You would have been the obvious choice for the #Stalk prompt for #ScaryFebruary but then I remembered I was reading through the tagged book. Too bad this stalk isn‘t much more menacing than Frankencelery from VeggieTales 😅

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MatchlessMarie
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43 likes1 stack add
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Gina
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I ♡ plants. I ♡ horror. BOOM! Here it is in one line green package.

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Linsy
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome cover!! 💚🖤 3y
Eggs Brilliant 💚📚💙 3y
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LaraS
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Pickpick

I‘ve never seen a more accurate illustration of allergies, lol

This was a delightful book to flip through. Who knew plants could wreak such havoc? Lots of the usual poison, rashes, and toxins…but also some unexpected exploding and pyrotechnic varieties.

I got the ebook version from the library but I can tell this would‘ve been better as a physical copy. Looking forward to checking out the one on Wicked Bugs!
#screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I should have known my allergies were somehow men's fault. 😂 3y
6 likes2 comments
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Johanna414
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My husband and I celebrated our anniversary today with a trip to the Botanical Gardens in Buffalo. He knows me really well, so he had the book and necklace picked out from the gift shop while I used the bathroom. I couldn't come home without a couple pretty plants as well... 😂
@DanaManiac I think this is the perfect follow up to This Poison Heart!

Julsmarshall Ooh I just got a pink panther plant too! 3y
Johanna414 @Julsmarshall I've been wanting one for awhile so I was pumped to find it! 3y
Tamra Sweet! 3y
DanaManiac Happy anniversary! Yes, this does look like the perfect follow up read ☺️ 3y
47 likes4 comments
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tpixie
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While waiting on the next Kopp Sisters‘ book, I‘m going through #AmyStewart‘s BackList. I‘ve listened to and read the Drunken Botanist (I wish she were here making all these drinks for me) and Wicked Plants. Now to start Wicked Bugs!
The books are fun and informative and the covers are gorgeous!

#LitsyBookClub
#Covers #BeautifulCovers

Chrissyreadit What do you think of them on audio compared to physical? I agree about #coverlove 4y
tpixie @Chrissyreadit convol answer: The audio is actually pretty good but the plant pictures are fun to look at. I‘m not good at memorizing what plants look like though so it was OK. The drunken Botanist has great cocktail recipes if you drink. If you don‘t drink I think it would be a hard one to listen to or read because it left me wanting to drink the cocktails 🍸 I don‘t have a lot of time to sit down and read but if I did the book would be better. (edited) 4y
Chrissyreadit @tpixie I do like an occasional cocktail 😁- thanks for this thoughtful reply! 4y
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tpixie @Chrissyreadit hope you have a great weekend! 4y
Chrissyreadit @tpixie you too! Happy Mother‘s Day! 4y
tpixie @Chrissyreadit yes! You too! 😍 4y
55 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Who knew plants could be so interesting? Stewart takes readers through some of the most deadly plants in existence and includes anecdotes about their impact on historical figures. From the Salem witch trials to ancient Greece, dangerous plants have had a huge impact. Even familiar things like kidney beans or cashews can be dangerous if not properly prepared. The biggest take away is that we should never underestimate the power of nature.

BookishMarginalia I loved this one! 4y
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GardenJess
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The remaining artichoke growing in the recycling bin is still alive. The pepper plants are all twice as large as my 3 year old and producing well. Okra plants are late blooming but starting to produce. Half my tomatoes got pulled this week and replanted for fall greens. I don‘t know how the others will fare after the record setting rain we expect from the tropical depression coming over next two weeks. It‘s an adventure!

kyraleseberg My okra has been insane this year! It took a while to get started with the cooler spring temps but it has been producing so we'll through the heat wave! 4y
GardenJess @kyraleseberg it‘s my first time growing okra since I was a kid. Thought it wouldn‘t work in my raised beds but it‘s taken off like crazy - late like yours but it‘s nice to have a late summer oroducer. Throwing my fall plantings off a little though. 4y
kyraleseberg @GardenJess Same! I'm letting the okra do its thing (though I've already bagged about 7 or 8 lbs in the freezer!) but went ahead and transplanted my collards and lettuce and sowed my carrots 4y
15 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Meaw_catlady
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For #keeplitsypositive today I want to share a couple of my plants with you! This pile of succulents was gifted to me by my mom. It is so wild it is trying to take over my bedroom. Look at the “mother of all” she is the queen. she will assimilate you. My coworker gave me this begonia piece. I planted it and have successfully kept it alive ! Go me!!
Blessings to you all!
@LoverOfLearning @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Love your plants!! We have a bit of a jungle here as well! 5y
Branwen Those are all so beautiful! Do Lucy and Salem mess with them at all? 5y
Meaw_catlady @TheAromaofBooks thank you! They make me feel like my space is mine and very homey. It‘s weird that plants do that 5y
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Meaw_catlady @Branwen thanks! No they don‘t actually usually come in my room. Because I can‘t sleep if they are in here . Allergies plus they are very wiggly at night . 5y
Branwen @Meaw_catlady That's very smart! Chaplin constantly wakes me up in the middle of the night with his butt in my face! 😂🤣😹 5y
TheAromaofBooks Yes, plants can be super comforting. I was reading somewhere that they also add different textures and shapes to rooms, which is part of the reason they make spaces feel more welcoming. 5y
Chelsea.Poole Love houseplants 💚 yours are lovely. 5y
Eggs Thanks for the tag 🏷💗 5y
51 likes9 comments
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MatchlessMarie
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So my camera decided to stop working so enjoy this blurry photo. I wasnt planning on starting this book yet, but I found myself awake at 230 and didn't want to wake the rest of my house up looking for my other book. #TIL that more people are poisoned annually by plants than are injured by electrical outlets. Like 17 times more. #NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick

phatsallylee I enjoyed this book as well as some of her others! 5y
Clwojick 4 pts! 5y
59 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Linsy
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Andrea4 Ooo the big bad book of botany looks cool!!! 5y
Craftylikefox Well now I need to add the big bad book of Botany to my library 😂 5y
Linsy @Andrea4 @Craftylikefox It‘s great!! 🌱 5y
youneverarrived Very pretty 💚 5y
ApplesandSpindles We have lots of books in common. ☺ 5y
77 likes5 comments
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BookmarkTavern
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#chillingphotochallenge #poison

The Alnwick Gardens, specifically the new Poison Garden section, are on my Travel Bucket List.

#TeamSlaughter #Scarathlon @Clwojick 1 point (123 total)

Mandoul I love Alnwick Gardens and really enjoyed the poison garden tour. As a bonus, Alnwick has a great used bookstore (Barter Books) 📚😀 5y
BookmarkTavern @Mandoul Oooh! Excellent! I‘ll have to look that up. If I ever manage to get there! 🤞🏻 (edited) 5y
Linsy Looove this book! 5y
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
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tpixie
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#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush #CoverLove
Day 4

This is a great cover! From one our own Littens. She is finally touring fairly close to me (Tulsa, OK - I‘m near Wichita, KS) , but I‘ve got to stay home close to my daughter whose 35 weeks pregnant with twins. Snap!

https://www.amystewart.com/events/

Chrissyreadit So exciting! (The twins)!!!!! 5y
tpixie @Chrissyreadit yes!!! So thankful she made it to 35 weeks!! now I hope at least 36 but would prefer 37! 5y
tpixie @Chrissyreadit she‘s been nesting an awful lot this last week though! 5y
Chrissyreadit 35 is not bad! What do they weigh? Are they Boy/girl/surprise? 5y
tpixie @Chrissyreadit yes! I‘m so thankful they‘ve stayed inside so long!! 2 girls! Natalya & Emory ! They‘re about 4.5 - 5 lbs now! So pretty good sized. She‘s a walking time bomb! 5y
77 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Wow what a busy week two of #BFC getting this posted a little late but that‘s just how my week seems to be going. Between being away from home, road trips and the 4th the only thing I managed to do this week was meet my goal of eating 3 times a day. Read a couple graphic novels but that‘s about it. Here‘s hoping this coming week calms down and I can get back on track. In the meantime here‘s Daisy again. @wanderinglynn @Clwojick #fitwizards

Clwojick Hi Daisy! 👋 5y
Clwojick And you‘re doing great considering how busy you‘re week was. Fingers crossed it calms down for you a bit this week 💕 5y
wanderinglynn I'm going to rewrite this sentence: “the only thing I managed to do this week was meet my goal of eating 3 times a day“ to “I met my goal of eating 3 times a day!“ (complete with exclamation point). It's good to strive for more, but some weeks, life happens. So it's important to celebrate what you did accomplish! 🎉 On busy weeks when you're traveling, it's hard to eat 3 meals. And Daisy is adorable! ❤ 🐶 5y
33 likes3 comments
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ApplesandSpindles
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Research...

SW-T Very interesting book! The things you learn 😊 (edited) 6y
ApplesandSpindles @SW-T I am researching for a story but is the sort of thing I would read for fun too. 😛 6y
Linsy Beautiful pic! 5y
ApplesandSpindles @Linsy Thank you!! 5y
15 likes1 stack add4 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln‘s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart

This was a #BlameItOnLitsy read for me 😊

#OhMother 🌱🌿☘️ #ANewChapter 🥂

#BookNerd 💙📚🤓

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds interesting 💚💚 6y
100 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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AshleyHoss820
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FREUD!! 😂😂 I‘m screaming!
Spaniard dude: Dude, if you give the slaves this coca plant, they‘ll work forever and barely eat.
Other Spaniard dude: Boy, they‘re sure dying a lot, huh?
Spaniard dude: Yeah. Weird.

#HistoryIsFun

58 likes2 stack adds
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SW-T
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Pickpick

Enjoyed the presentation and how the book was organized. Full of exotic lore, lovely illustrations, and well written with a touch of humor.

#gardens #botany #poison #botanicalillustrations #poisonbooknerd

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PathfinderNicole
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1. Yes!
2. I‘d say 40-60 with more fiction?
3. History, mostly anything pre WWII. True spooky stories (ghosts, cryptids).
4. Hmmm. Hard to choose! The Discovery of the Titanic by Dr Robert Ballard or Tower by Nigel Jones.
5. Done!
#HelloThursday @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for playing! 😀 6y
14 likes1 comment
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SW-T
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Starless
Ancillary Justice
Lending a Paw
Learning to Breathe
Iron and Magic
Enemies in Love

@LibrarianRyan #everyletter

LibrarianRyan 😁🤓👍🏻 6y
9 likes1 comment
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SW-T
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Not sure what I‘ll get to or in what order, but something‘s gonna get read for the September Book-a-Week challenge. Gotta work on my TBR pile 📚📚📚📚

@TheReadingMermaid

9 likes1 comment
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SW-T
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Love the illustrations and so far it‘s been very interesting. Nice that you can read it in order or skip around as different plants interest you.

#gardens #botanicalillustrations #botanical #botany

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SW-T
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Starting a new book is always an adventure. Looking forward to this one.

#newbook #bookaddict

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PathfinderNicole
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Pickpick

Did you know there‘s a tree in the West Indies and in Central and South America whose fruit explodes with a literal bang when ripe, often sending its poisonous seeds flying up to 300 feet away? I didn‘t before reading this! A fascinating read about the bad boys of plants that covered everything from marijuana and Venus fly traps to cyanide and strychnine. I loved it and definitely learned quite a bit!

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PathfinderNicole
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1. I couldn‘t choose between Titanic, Twister, and The Great Mouse Detective.
2. Fries!
3. In the car-mostly AltNation on sat radio. At home-Spotify daily mix or a playlist of video game music.
4. Done! It‘s a good book so far about different kinds of poisonous and otherwise “wicked” plants.
5. Will do!
#FriyayIntro @jesshowbooks

KatieCarpenter That sounds like an interesting book! I‘m also a fry girl! :) 6y
TheLibrarian The Great Mouse Detective is such a great movie! 6y
kstadt929 Ahhh I‘ve forgotten about the movie Twister! I remember watching it at my aunt‘s house with my older brother...and then thinking for the longest time that a tornado would hit my house 🤣 6y
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InLibrisVeritas
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Pickpick

This turned out to be really fascinating and a perfect pick for my History of Magic prompt for the #NEWTsreadathon2018

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InLibrisVeritas
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I should be asleep but I set about trying to find a book to fit a prompt for the #NEWTsreadathon2018 and finally found it!

The prompt is "a book that would fit in at the Hogwarts library" , and I think this has a title that would work so well in the herbology section.

Daisey Seems like a great choice for that prompt, and it is a fascinating book. 6y
InLibrisVeritas @Daisey So far its proving to be perfect for the challenge, and definitely fascinating 6y
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Linsy
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I L💚VE this book so much!! #wicked #coolbooks

Craftylikefox Yes!!! I love the whole collection 🖤🖤 6y
Daisey I liked this plants one but enjoyed the one about plants used for alcohol even more. 6y
Linsy @Daisey What a great title!! Do you think I‘d enjoy it even if I don‘t drink? I don‘t know anything about drinks, but this sounds like such a fun book! 6y
Daisey Not sure about that! If I remember correctly, the two books were similar in style, but I enjoyed the alcohol one more because of my personal interest in making alcohol and drinking it. So, maybe if you enjoy the focus on various ways to use it plants, such as how different cultures developed types of alcohol and other ingredients of cocktails. 6y
118 likes8 stack adds4 comments
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JillPill
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1) Tulips
2) Ooh so many! Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, carrots
3) no I kill plants 😂
4) tagged book, Wicked Plants!!

#GardenParty @REPollock

REPollock So many great book recommendations coming from this! 6y
11 likes1 comment
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Grrlbrarian
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Oh, I‘ll come to the #gardenparty!
1. Pansies for looks (their little lion faces!), lilacs for smell, delphiniums or irises for color
2. Everything but Brussels sprouts
3. Just some plants on the porch and a few pothos inside that somehow, I have yet to murder
4. Wicked Plants for those who dream of planting a poison garden someday! 👌🖤

REPollock OMGGGGG fantastic rec! 6y
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Victoriahoperose
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Panpan

This started out so strong and I was super interested to read this and then it just got dry. It lost momentum and it was like reading a dictionary. Super boring for me. #booked2018 #environmentbooks

Cinfhen Love your honest review💚sorry it was a dud 6y
21 likes1 comment
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Andrea4
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1. Constantly changing but maybe somewhere in the mint family?
2. Re-binge watching for the gazillionth time- Grey's Anatomy 💜😢
3. Wicked Plants...once you know a little, you want more!
4. Everything!
5. Market, Bookclub & Greek Food Fest with @llwheeler and a relaxing Sunday with massage!

#FriYayIntro @jesshowbooks

Bklover 2. Yes! Season 7 Episode 18 is my favorite! 6y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Great way to end my birthday with an author event! We hosted Amy for the @litsybookclub in January.

rather_be_reading awesome!! happy birthday!! 🎉🎂🎁 7y
rubyslippersreads Happy 🎂🎂🎂! 7y
AmyG Happy Birthday!🎉🎁🎂 7y
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mabell Happy Birthday! We heard her speak at our botanical garden. She is hilarious. 😄 7y
JessClark78 Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎉 7y
Lcsmcat Happy Birthday! 🎉🎈🎂 7y
AmyStewart Great to see you! 7y
Jas16 Happy Birthday 🎂🎈🎉🎁 7y
Ddzmini Happy birthday 🎁🎂🎊🎈🎉 7y
Graciouswarriorprincess @AmyStewart You were wonderful and it was great to see you! Continued success with all your work! 7y
tpixie So awesome!! Glad you got to really celebrate your birthday in readers heaven!! 💚📚💚🎂🎂🎂 7y
83 likes11 comments
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MiyakoBunny
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Pickpick

5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟I 💚‘d this lil‘ gem 💎 of a book 📖 & I seriously must own the little set RIGHT MEOW!!! ❤️ There‘s even a mini section that mentions Guam 🇬🇺 🦇🌴❤️!!! It had me so excited I was reading it aloud for everyone because I‘m a No F*€K$ Given kind of Gal 💁🏻‍♀️🤣 Hear These facts people! Hear them! Lmao🤣 Two👍🏼👍🏼Thumbs Way The F*€K up for this one 🌱🌵🌾😎

RohitSawant Oo, sounds interesting! And that's a killer cover! 😁 7y
MiyakoBunny @rohit-sawant I love the cover detail for sure the inside has beautiful illustrations as well 😊🌱🤗💚 7y
28 likes2 stack adds2 comments