Datura, 2011 Glass, steel, paint Site-Specific Installation Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio The Himalayan biosphere in the Franklin Park Conservatory is home to many wildly beautiful, toxic and invasive species. One such toxic species is the medicinal and mythological Datura plant. The Datura, a member of the nightshade family, holds many common names because of its intoxicating beauty: moon flower, angel's trumpet and devil's weed. The night blooming, invasive plant has adapted to every environment including the Himalayas. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids that have a long, colorful history, used as medicines, poisons and hallucinogens. Our sculpture features oversize leaves, flowers, and pods, in permutations from bloom to decay.