translation

we see this flowering plant everywhere. it is the default flowering hedge in most gardens and along the tops of many walls. our neighbor warned us that it is poisonous. that it is called “laurier rose” or pink laurel, but that it bears no resemblance culinarily to the bay laurel that we use to flavor so many dishes here. we have tried to describe it in french many times, and have often forgotten its french name. the other day i was trying to describe it to an english speaking friend. “it has leaves like a laurel tree, but it’s a shrub. it has simple pink flowers that are beautiful but the whole plant is toxic, i don’t know how else to describe it.” well, if i had known then what i know now, i could have simply said, “oh yes. that’ an oleander,” and gotten on with my life.

dried october flowers