For the last couple of weeks I've been eagerly awaiting the flowering of Dracunculus vulgaris on the slope by our driveway. My wife called me this morning to complain about the smell and mentioned a very large bird of prey flying low up and down the drive. My daughter was home and she then called to say the same bird was perched for a long time on the brick pillars at the side of the drive, intermittently circling the spot where the Dracunculus is. Half an hour later the entire 'flower' was broken off and left at the side of the plant and when I came home it was obviously smashed - in fact shredded in places. Something took serious exception to it! There was absolutely no wind at the time and the neighbors were not involved in the incident. We don't have dogs. Is there any documentation of Dracunculus being attacked by large birds of prey? J. John T Lonsdale PhD 407 Edgewood Drive, Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, USA Home: 610 594 9232 Cell: 484 678 9856 Fax: 801 327 1266 Visit "Edgewood" - The Lonsdale Garden at <http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/> http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/ USDA Zone 6b