High-drangeas!

In a strange coincidence following our recent post on garden crime, the newspapers are today reporting another issue regarding thefts from gardens, albeit a rather strange one.  It appears that residents of Hucqueliers, a village in northern France, have seen their hydrangeas stripped of their flowers - and the thefts have now spread across the area.  Apparently the practice was first seen in Germany - and the reason is quite peculiar.  Police have warned that the gang (or gangs) involved have been stealing the flower heads in order to smoke the petals, as they give a hallucinogenic and euphoric effect.  These hydrangeas - and reports do not say whether it is all plants in the genus or only a specific variety - contain a chemical similar to that found in cannabis.  Experts have now emerged, somewhat predictably, to announce that smoking the petals could lead to serious health problems.

This rather begs the question "how on earth did anyone find out?". Someone had to be the first to try, and to make the discovery, but how do you get the idea in the first place?  Although I like to think of myself as a gardener open to new concepts and experimentation, I cannot say that I have ever had the urge to smoke, ingest or otherwise make use of any random petals or plants in the garden (other than veg, I suppose) on the off chance that they just might give a pleasant buzz.  Can't we stick to just enjoying the scent, and leaving the blossom on the plant for others (and the wildlife) to enjoy?

So now, when you look out at your neighbour's hydrangea display, you have to ask yourself whether they are growing them for show - or for another reason entirely!