Definitely giant hogweed. Some people get a rash after touching it, being out in the sun.

Parsnips can also cause skin irritation and burns if you combine the sap on your skin with sun exposure - personal experience. Either way, cow parsnip or hogweed, be careful handling the green leafy parts. FataMorgana Here is a link that might be useful: Hogweed info & identification brochure

plantomaniac08 Thank you yes it will be Lithops. DavidL.ca The 45lt Terrascape is "Air plants only" Lighting will be a twin Aquarium 4ft unit 1 plant and 1 daylight tube, that unit/combination grows aquarium plants very well. The Air plants are in an open tank misted every morning. The Lithops will be growing in 1-3 river stones about 10cm deep and will never be watered directly except a morning mist as required. The tank will have a glass lid with a 10cm opening back and front plus about the same at the ends, if required I can install a computer fan at each end but I doubt it would be required. I live in Victoria Australia which is considered more of a Mediterranean climate. All the watering is done from the bottom via a tube from the top via what is called a UGF Under Gravel Filter when used in a fish tank. The plate is about 2cm high, to check the moisture I use a standard garden Moisture Meter To stop the garden soil from clogging up the grates I will add a layer of 1-3mm river stones at least 3cm deep first

Unfortunately the time to cut Amaranthus is when it looks fabulous in the yard. The optimum time to cut is now, before any seeds develop and you lose that purple colour. In order to dry the Amaranthus, I find it best to strip all the leaves (the dried leaves are unsightly). Hang the plant upside down in a dark, warm, well ventilated area (I hang in my basement. The heads will dry intact and retain the purple colour - not as vibrant I guess, but definitely purple. I've found that Amaranthus will rehydrate - in humid conditions or if your home is quite humid then they will droop some. That heavy stem you see now becomes quite light (in weight, that is) after it's dried so it should hold itself up quite well. The stem, when dried, is very strong.