LettersPage01

>From twenty minutes of looking around, I think your website is excellent.
I'll be back to see more as time permits.

I'm a Canadian (Ontario) who's been living and working on the Pacific coast
of México for a few years. With an intense interest in botany (i.e. the
local native flora) and an almost complete absence of reference materials
for this area, I was trying to identify a plant for someone. From his photo
it was almost certainly in Solanaceae and possibly a Datura, so I searched
Google for "+datura +mexico" and ran into your pages at the top of the
results. And read a lot of info about the Huichol which I've never seen
before, then surfed around for awhile.

Now I have to get back to both a job I'm working on and a continuation of my
search for the plant in question, but I just wanted to tell you how happy I
am to have found your site and to say that I'll be back. Thanks!

Glad to see that you like the site...
Reference material is very hard to come by. I was fortunate to find an encyclopedia on Cactus while in Oaxaca - all in Spanish, but the Latin names are there and the photos are excellent. I keep looking around for books on Central American plants, but find only smatterings of plants in other books - but continue to look. There are many photos that escape me for species identification... sometimes I can narrow it down a bit, but mostly not - insects and spiders, same thing... butterflies are a little easier because of the extreme popularity.
The Datura is one of my favorites in Mexico, so beautiful, so fragrant, so potent.
Keep in touch,
Peter T.

Dear photographer

I'm happy too see a great talent being used to such a degree...
Taking photos is one of those things which I could never get bored of.
I had a large interest in the graffiti which has played a big part in
my life these past 3 years and think you should take it further but I noticed quite a few pictures of sprayed walls with scribbles, which I call good old drysh. The simplicity of it is good
but here in the UK its becoming a hole for bored kids to spray insults and ruin buildings and other rural areas - It gives graffiti a bad name and that's why I hate it so much.

To me its nothing but a amazing art in which is misunderstood and think all
great pieces should be left and be looked at as a colorful masterpieces of deep meaning. The best places I have seen such amazing pieces are Bristol, London, France, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
In the UK I have seen them for real but abroad they are just a myth that has been published on the Internet.

I so think you should make more of the graffiti pictures though you
would be surprised how many people this would interest especially here
in the UK
Many thanks,

Dear Sophy;
Thanks for the kind words about the graffiti photos... I've been doing it for so long that I sometimes loose track of why I do these things. I remember arguments with my teachers at Art School (I went to Emily Carr Institute of art and Design) about the merits of graffiti and how they supported the work, even though it did indeed cause a lot of grief to building owners through out the world.
After traveling around North America so much, photographing archeological sites and so on, I began to realize that we, as a species, have been doing graffiti for thousands of years - it is a part of our nature, so to speak.
Graffiti is a unique way to convey messages to the public - some one is bound to understand it, (even the scribbles and tags) if only to others that are clued into the lingo of the graffiti artist.
Thanks again... yes, I will keep putting graffiti on my site, but I also have viewers who like the plant stuff, and hikes, news and so on... I have to try to keep every one happy... :-)
Peter T
ernestartist.org

Okay, I found your site, want to know if you have any connections to any graffiti artists in the Vancouver, BC, area. I would like to get someone to draw up a graffiti design for my son, which will be tattooed--- I do tattoos, and have been having a lot of problems finding anyone reliable to draw something up... we commissioned one person, but were unhappy with the result, so still looking. If you have any ideas, please let me know.
Much appreciation.
Teresa

Dear Theresa;
My advice is to go to the Emily Carr Institute of art and design (On Granville Island) and ask to post a "want add" on the school bulletin board - you will get a surprising number of interested "Budding" artists who will give you all their attention... for free.
Peter T.

Hola.
I live in Suchitlan, Colima, Mexico and have found that a tree called IGGUERIA
is a really nasty tree. If the juice from tree or leaf gets on the skin, it
eats down through the skin into the flesh much as phosphorus does. Can you give me
some info on this tree. I have found it growing locally and my friends horse
rubbed up against it and damn near died.
Thanks,
Vicente en Suchitlan

Hi Peter.
Here are the photos of the tree. The Indians tell me that the sap eats through the
skin into the flesh and it just begins to fall off. We would also like to know
if there is an antidote in case you figure out what this nasty thing is.
Buena suerte y saludos,
Vicente

The photos of your tree and description of its action closely resemble the Manchineel Tree - as in the following:

The manchineel tree (Species: Hippomane mancinella, Family: Euphorbiaceae) got its name from the Spanish 'manzanilla' which means 'little apple.' The fruit and leaves of the tree resemble those of an apple tree. However, the manchineel tree is a very poisonous plant and should be avoided as far as possible. It has a reputation as being the most dangerous tree around.

The manchineel is a tree reaching up to 15 meters high with a grayish bark, shiny green leaves and spikes of small greenish flowers. Its fruits are green or greenish-yellow when ripe.

The manchineel tree can be found near to (and on) coastal beaches throughout the Caribbean and in Central America. It provides excellent natural windbreaks and its roots stabilize the sand, thus helping to prevent beach erosion.

Contact with the manchineel tree can cause severe medical problems. The milky sap causes blistering, burns, and inflammation when in contact with the skin, mucous membranes (1), and eyes.

The leaves, bark, sap and fruit of the tree are all poisonous. Contact with any of these causes contact dermatitis symptomised by painful blisters.
Eating the fruit, which has a very sweet smell and a pleasant taste, can be deadly. Swallowing even a tiny amount of the fruit will cause blisters and swelling in the mouth and throat.
Standing under the tree is hazardous if it is raining. The water passing through the leaves and fruit will cause burns and blisters if it comes in contact with your skin.
Cutting this tree will cause the sap to squirt. Contact with this will cause blisters.
Burning this tree results in the sap being carried in the smoke and this will affect the eyes and skin of people in the vicinity. If sap (or smoke from the burning tree) enters the eyes it can lead to blindness.
Carib Indians (2) used the sap of this tree to poison their darts and were known to poison the water supply of their enemies with the leaves. As a form of torture they would tie victims to this tree and leave them exposed to the elements (especially rain).
The only animal that is known to be able to eat the fruit of this tree without risk is a species of land crab.
Warning!

In many places the tree carries a warning sign alerting people to the dangers. In other places, a red 'X' painted on the trunk serves as a warning. Despite this, many people are treated every year after some sort of contact with this tree. Children, especially, need to be warned. After all, they can easily be fooled by the sweet-smelling, plum-sized fruit.

So if you are on holiday in the Caribbean and you see a manchineel tree - do not touch it, do not put your beach chair under it and do not shelter under it when it rains. Most importantly, do not let your children near it.

(1) The moist layer of tissue lining the digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive tracts.
(2) The native Amerindian tribe after whom the Caribbean is named.

Hi,
I found you on A.S. and visited your website. I'm mostly interested in
learning which are "pet friendly" plants and also I am interested in
aromatherapy and flower essences. I thought you might like my cat's story:
Minouche spent the whole of last summer on the south balcony sniffing and
rubbing the Tuscan rosemary plant on her head and face. She was very
fragrant! I checked a book of veterinary aromatherapy and found that
rosemary is very therapeutic, as your website says. I brought the plant
inside for the winter, but she didn't visit the plant. I assume she was
enjoying the oils being released by the heat of the sun. Animals are very
wise about what is good for them. I made a mistake and added some marigolds
this summer. She didn't take an interest, so I'll leave the plant on its
own from now on.
On another note, I enjoyed the cars too. One of my client's resident
manager has a work of art in progress in the parkade. Wonderful orange VW
Beetle. It seems like Earth Mother symbolism to me - he says I'm on the
right track. I hope you see him around. His name is Mark and he's a very
friendly and interesting man.
Good luck with your various projects and your quest!

Dear ES;
Thanks for the positive feedback on the website. I also have a liking for cats, (Unfortunately I have none right at the moment) Try "Nepeta Cataria" catnip. Fresh is the best. We used to grow it in the rockery garden at home where I grew up. The cats go nuts for the stuff, rolling in it, eating it, sleeping on it, and getting a 'high' off it like we get when smoking Pot.
Your cat will love you for it, and feel better, more relaxed...
Peter Tanner,
ernestartist.org.

Hi Peter,
> I had contacted you a while ago about my little cat Minouche and her fondness for a Tuscan Rosemary plant. Well, since then Minouche has turned 18 and we have just moved. The cats are being stoic, but I know it's upsetting for them. Yesterday was just too much! I was determined to get rid of some boxes and stuff things in cupboards. I opened the balcony door to get some fresh air and vacuumed and then intended to give out treats. I picked up little Minouche and was patting her head. She smelled like rosemary. Little thing had run out onto the balcony and hid her face in the rosemary. Kitty stress relief! They're smart aren't they?

I've been enjoying your photos so much - they are very beautiful. And the plants. I used to collect plants around Yellowknife for a friend of my father's. I pressed them and sent them to Manitoba. He found the specimens interesting and unexpected. I think it's a crossover area for a few zones. Plants and animals you wouldn't normally expect. Some of the plants I think drove up from Alberta with people coming for their new job. I guess the spores stick onto the tires or something. Interesting.
Thought you might like to hear about Minouche and her friend the rosemary plant. Thanks for all you do!
Bye from us,

Barbara and the cats
Reiki Practitioner, Level III

Windsong Pet CareGentle care for your best friend Vancouver, BC CanadaVoice (604) 730-5939http://www.windsongpetcare.comwindsong@portal.ca

Dear Barbara (and cats);
Cats are definitely interesting creatures... so are plants. When I started attempting to identify plants, especially wild plants, I tried desperately to use "known plant photos" as a guide - I didn't identify all that many plants. As I delved deeper into the plant kingdom, I realized that plants take on characteristics of particular areas, and even cross pollinate to make plants that are similar to the norm, but unique.
Life is like that... if a viewer can be observant, they can make wonderful discoveries.
Enjoy... I also learned what it was like to care for Ferrets... that was an interesting adventure that lasted only a few years, but will remember for the rest of my life.
Peter T.

Hi,
Thanks again for the catnip tip. I had a couple more cat related questions for
you, if you don't mind. My little guy Timmy has started nibbling on a jasmine
plant outside. Is this a safe plant? Also, every cat I know loves to eat
papyrus. The only decent looking papyrus I've ever seen is one in a cafe where
there were no cats in residence. Is there an enzyme or something in papyrus
that cats are attracted to?

I checked out your profile again on A.S. It really is great and I love the
photos. Your website is fab! Obviously, since I'm back. But, good lord when I
got to your travel diary! Rugged or what? You are quite a character. Do you
indulge in sleeping in real beds, indoor plumbing and eating off plates and all
that decadence the other 50 weeks of the year?
I am Eva on A.S. if you're curious. My profile is there.

Interested or not, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the plants. Do people ever
get to hire you to plan pet friendly gardens?
Thanks very much!

Dear Barbara;
I am looking at my plant books again, in response to your question about Jasmine - there is a yellow Jasmine, or Gelsemium Sempervirens, or Carolina Jessmine - has small yellow trumpet blossoms - a hardy vine that grows in more southern regions of the USA.
The vine contains toxic alkaloids. Poisonous.
Other Jasmines,
Jasminium Beesianum, J. Mesnyi, J. Officinale - climbing Jasmines... haven't heard of anything poisonous about it...
Also a couple varieties of shrub Jasmine - Jasminum Humile and J. Nudiflorum which seem okay.
Also a Solanum Jasminoides - Jasmine Nightshade - which contains toxins because it is a member of the potato vine family,
I haven't heard anything about Papyrus that would indicate anything toxic.

The question is... Which one do you have?
I hope I haven't alarmed you :-)
Peter Tanner, ernestartist.org

Hi Mark;
Usually people just cut the palm leaves from live trees, (making sure not to take too many from one tree at a time) I have no idea where one would buy them. What area of the world are you in?

I'm betting, that if you were to contact some Mexican Americans, they would be willing to cut some for you (probably as much as you need) the palms last about three years before they need to be replaced.
I would put a small add in your local Spanish paper to attract the attention needed.
Good luck!
Let me know how you make out...

I have seen your reply thanks do you think that these people have aloe Vera
seeds but friend if you can trace it for me I will be very grateful for that .
thanks yours,

Moses;
Here is a short list of addresses that sell Aloe seeds. The 'sandemanseeds' looks to be the most promising. Enclosed is also an article I found while searching for you, and thought it might be of interest.
Let me know how you made out?
Peter
ernestartist.org

http://www.sandemanseeds.com/acatalog/Sandeman_Seeds_Aloe_583.html
http://perso.wanadoo.es/amazonias/Pages/otherseeds.html
http://perso.guetali.fr/natural/nbga_li.htm

A woman who tried to smuggle five aloe Vera plants through Sydney International Airport has learned just how seriously Australia takes quarantine protection, when she was fined $7216 for breaching Quarantine and Customs regulations

The 66-year-old Australian arrived on a flight from China. X-ray screening of her luggage by an Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) officer revealed undeclared aloe plants — which the passenger intended planting in her garden for medicinal use.

The case was heard before the Sydney Magistrates Court and the woman was fined $6000 for breaching quarantine regulations, with court costs of $58 and professional costs of $350. She was also convicted and fined $750 with court costs of $58 for failing to declare the plants on her incoming passenger card.

The magistrate commented that the seriousness of the risk to Australia warranted a stiff penalty. Plants such as these could carry a range of fungi such as leaf spot — a direct threat to Australia’s rapidly growing aloe Vera industry.

More than 80 per cent of passengers arriving at Australia’s international airports are now screened for quarantine risk items — more than double the number screened at this time last year. Currently, an average of 38,000 items of quarantine concern are seized at international airports per month — an increase of 74 per cent since early 2001.