That Fall

This early composition includes a dogwood leaf, castor bean leaves and wild multiflora rose fruits. Castor is a tall, toxic plant, grown as an ornamental annual in northern gardens, that looks more suited to its origins in the tropics. Besides the familiar oil, a poison called ricin is produced from its seeds. Multiflora rose is an aggressive species, forming large clumps, with fragrant sprays of small white blossoms, followed by red berries that are attractive to birds.