Calgary artist grows garden of poisonous plants

Watch above: Here’s Gil Tucker with a unique artist, who is growing plants that can be deadly to touch or taste, highlighting the links between nature and art.

CALGARY – The May long weekend is traditionally a time for getting your garden growing in Calgary, but a local artist has come up with quite a twist on that tradition.

Alyssa Ellis is growing a garden comprised solely of poisonous plants.

It’s part of her exhibit “The Laboratory of Toxic Maturation,” housed in a window gallery at Arts Commons.

She’s growing plants native to Alberta; some dangerous to the touch, some deadly if eaten.

Ellis is an avid camper, and is hoping her exhibit gets people thinking about safety while enjoying the wilderness.

She says she’s fascinated by the fact that “we have these wonderful plants out in nature that could overpower us.”