Halloween - Mwah hahahahahahahagh

American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) seems to always show up in my gardens. It is native and has medicinal uses...including poisoning. I can appreciate gaudy and I love robust, so I let it stay. The larvae of the Giant Leopard Moth eat the leaves. Some birds love the ripe berries.  

This is a small (9 x12) plein air pastel done almost completely with a set of Derwent pastel pencils on #600 UArt paper. What a fine day for sitting on a comfortable garden bench with familiars, wine and art supplies. 

One never knows when one will need a spot of poison.