The next 6 hours will be a bit nerve racking. We have a beautiful tree in our yard that the builder put in. I knew it's name but had forgotten it. It has been looking rough this summer so I said screw it and was trimming back some of the dead branches and these huge seed pods weighing the branches down. My hope was it would come back to life next spring. Well I was almost done and I here my neighbor say "Hey you know your trimming one of the most dangerous plants on earth. It's a Oleander. " My hands were covered with it's sap. His dog had ate a leaf and died. I ran in and washed my hands and took a shower. I called poison control. They told me many dogs and cats die each year and roughly 20 humans (Mostly kids) die from either eating the flowers or other causes. She said I did everything right. But for 6 hours I have to monitor my BP and and Heart rate. Apple Watch to the rescue. But yeah folks watch out. I will be removing it soon. It's beautiful but to dangerous for me.
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Be careful what you are trimming or working with in your yard.....
- Thread starter AdamNC
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You owe your neighbor a nice bottle of wine. Good thing you have the AW.
Having grown up rural, oleander was out there. My parents once rented a house where the oleander plants line the drive down to the house.
I've never cared for the plant, but it's not dangerous as long as you aren't allergic to it or don't eat it. I'm not (allergic to it) and have never (eaten it). Never had a problem with it, although I don't care for the smell.
My dad on the other hand was allergic to it. He told me his eyes once swelled shut because of oleander. He avoided it.
Al I remember being stationed in Northern Virginia during the 2012 Super Derecho most of those pretty three lining expensive housing col de sac that fell down over the access the lone road going into that area! they had to wait days for forest worker with big chain saws to get people out like doctors, nurses and federal workers out! Laughed living in the barracks sense we had access to power!