Launching tomorrow (Saturday 20) and running until October 12, you will witness first hand the weird powers of numerous, beautiful and exciting plants.
These include the Opium Poppy, a flower whose chemicals provide mankind with medicines such as morphine and codeine, used in painkillers - to the more ordinary plants which provide us with coffee and tobacco.
The Intoxication Season will give people the chance to taste the flavours of different plants, learn about the poisonous varities, meet different scientists and Kew experts, as well as celebrate the annual UK Fungus day on October 12.
Each event will be packed with exciting and interesting facts, catering to people of all ages.
During the weekends, throughout The Intoxication Season, there will be a School of Thought talk, taking place twice a day featuring thought-provoking discussions by guest speaks and Kew experts. Subjects up for discussion include Alcohol, Cannabis, Coffee and Magic Mushrooms.
There is also a Plant Connoisseurs Club, an interactive workshop looking at the different plants consumed around the world, taking place in the Secluded Garden Lawn.
You can also come and celebrate the UK Fungus Day at Kew Gardens, with the rare chance to visit Kew’s Fungarium, the largest of its type in the world, home to over 850,000 species of fungi.
In the week, one off talks and walks will also be taking place, where there is an opportunity to discover how plants are used as intoxicants, with author and curator Mike Jay.
The dark side of beauty will also be revealed with Elizabeth Dauncey, Kew’s very own poisons expert who will be discuss the different types of poisonous plants.
The majority of these events at Kew Gardens will be free to attend once entry to the gardens is paid, with only a small number of them costing an additional £5.
For a list of all the events available during The Intoxication Season visit kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/whats-on/intoxication-season
