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"¼.when
all through the house, not a creature was stirring", except for
that mouse. But of course, this would be my own fault considering
the scent of dormant bulbs and bags of potting soil making that northern
back-porch seem like a warm extension of the backyard. Why? It's cool,
dry, and dark. Perfect for storage, be it apples, potatoes or squash.
The aroma of the bin of dog food alone would be enough to lure any
squirrel's olfactories into staging a break-in. And, come to think
of it, why do the ingredients to pooch's platter read more like a
recipe for cornbread pudding?
But back to the mouse. (We'll be addressing pesky varmints on Horticulture
Day in March at the Penn Yan Middle School.) I know of one little
squeaker who loved the black oil sunflower seeds last year. He left
a trail. Now I keep them out of his reach in my car's trunk. They
might even help my traction in snow.
So on to "stockings hung with care¼" (what if they
had plants in them? Mom's amaryllis is sprouting already) "¼in
hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there". Then there's the
Yuletide deluge of poinsettias that require attention and maybe caution.
Though the sap of the plant is mostly in the leaves and stems, it
can some times cause skin irritation and perhaps. All that glitters
is not gold. Beneath the showy colorful mantle of indoor plants we've
accepted as seasonal companions, there can be surprising "extras".
I was interested to learn that the bright red tops (or pink, or white,
etc.) of poinsettias are not flower petals, but actually a kind of
leaf called a bract. The flowers are those tiny yellow dots in the
center! Just don't eat 'em.
In fact, some other plants that are related to poinsettias can also
cause anything from a belly-ache to a burial. It is not necessary
to chew a plant to have an allergic reaction. These, of course, are
individualized reactions. The genus of these plants is Euphorbia (not
to be confused with Euphor-ia). Examples: "Crown of Thorns"
grown as a house plant and its cousin, "Jerusalem Cherry".
Both sport red and green merry colors. The former has sap to avoid,
and the latter, has a small fruit which, when it ripens may resemble
a cherry tomato.
Oleander is possibly the most lethal plant grown in the home. And
sadly, it's a beauty. A person can be hurt by it just smelling the
flowers, if they have asthma or heart problems, and it's sap can turn
food that touches it into poison.
So, if you don't want to take a long winter's nap,
(Or throw up the sash)-
Keep theses fellas out of reach when holiday milling occurs.
(Or you'll wind up on M.A.S.H.)
We'll probably be seeing a lot more of my recent favorite: the Amaryllis.
Their lovely blooms sprout in a cluster and add such a lustre. But
not to your menu. The bulbs if eaten can cause stomach and other digestive
pains. One species even has a poison which inhibits breathing. This
is the same family which includes narcissus, daffodils, jonquils,
hyacinth and paper whites. Eye-catching to tots and grownups alike,
when featured on wintry windowsills, but if they go down your "chimney",¼well,
it isn't a pretty sight.
Disappointed? Don't be. Just keep the squirt bottle of water handy
for kitty and fido, and the toddlers well supervised. Any youngster
be they 2-legged or 4 are especially curious and susceptible, and
must not be allowed to even touch certain foliages, no matter how
pretty or innocent they look. And that goes double for the plants.
Always know and have posted the number for your local poison control
center. It beats dashing through the snow.
Poisons in house plants can be in all or just isolated parts of the
plant or bulb. In the plant group called Arum, dangerous/irritating
crystals can cause severe swelling of the tongue, mouth and throat
if their leaves are chewed, obstructing breathing. Lovely Calla lilies,
colorful Elephant Ear, Dieffenbachia and cut-leaf Philodendron are
all common and all toxic. But listen, it's the Holidays. We want to
relax and enjoy.
A word to the wise. Forewarned is forearmed. The hipbone is connected
to the legbone. Uncle Ernie is connected to the punchbowl full of
spiked eggnog. And you thought only reindeer could fly!
Last updated:
6/7/01
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