- Author: Brenda Altman
I inherited a Nerium oleander (Oleander) when I bought my house three years ago. At first, I did not know what it was much less pay attention to it. It never needed any water, and it produced these lovely pink flowers every year. To me, it was just a bush on the crowded south side of my house. Then I found out it was an Oleander and toxic to pets. According to WebMD.com. :” Oleander is a plant. Its use as a poison is well-known. Some of the deaths from oleander are accidental but others are due to suicide. In parts of Asia, it is commonly used as a suicide agent”. In Volume 5 Issue 2 of “Keeping Landscape Working”, an ANR publication, the most commonly diagnosed caused of livestock poisoning in California was the ingestion of Oleander. About a year ago, Vallejo Recology sent out a flyer warning residents not to place Oleander leaves in their green recycling bins citing its toxicity. Recology workers could be poisoned if they inhaled or touched the dust when the plant was ground and shredded. The flyer went on warning that: “Fines would be given to anyone who violated this policy. All Oleander materials have to go in the gray household garbage bins.”
I have a cat, fortunately, he is pretty smart and reads up on toxic plants. He never touched the plant, but what of his illiterate friends? I decided I did not want this plant; I did not need this plant and it frightened me that neighborhood pets could accidentally ingest it and die.
Have you ever tried to get rid of an Oleander? They are tough plants and are chosen for their tough root systems to be used as hedge barriers. They also are drought-resistant, and they wrap their roots around everything.
Last year I decided to remove it. My first attempt at removing this plant was to cut all the visible growth above the surface and of course put the leaves and branches in the regular household garbage bin. That did not solve the problem. More vigorous shoots sprang up this year. Back to square one. I decided to cut all the branches down and dig into the ground and cut the roots below the ground. I dug underneath the roots hoping to dislodge the stump. No that did not work. I will do some more digging on how to be rid of oleander, and probably end up cutting and removing it with (someone else's) brute force.
Be careful what you plant, Oleander NEVERMORE!
- Author: Elvira Bautista DeLeon
What are you planting?
String of hearts and strings of pearls
Truly beautiful!
- Author: Launa Herrmann
- Author: Betty Victor
The abutilon belongs to the Mallow family-like hibiscus and Rose of Sharon-you can see the similarities. Other names for abutilon are Chinese Lantern, Chinese Bellflower, and the Flowering Maple but do not belong to the Maple family. They got their common names because of the shape of their leaves.
I have 5 of these abutilons in my yard. Two of them are pink and are planted in the corner of my yard where the fences come together are the tree-like form. They grow well above my 6-foot fence. These abutilons continue to grow and bloom most of the year, even with our frosty mornings.
I had a white one that was about 5 feet tall, but that was damaged last year by our high winds-so much it bent over with the top leaves laying on the soil and the root ball pulled out. I decided to cut it down and replant the root ball to see if it would survive. I did not think it would work but thought oh well it is worth a try. Boy, am I glad I did replant it, this year it is really blossoming with white bell-shaped flowers. This one is a shrub type.
My other abutilons are red, and I have a variegated one, that loves part shade. The way the flowers hang down like little bells, the hummingbirds love them.
- Author: Michelle Davis
Stop for just a moment and think about where you are reading this blog. What sounds do you hear? What smells do you detect? Is it hot or cold or where exactly in-between? If a window or door is nearby, what can you see? If you are enjoying that first cup of the morning, what flavors can you taste in your coffee or tea?
I don't usually carry a beverage with me, but I try to use all my senses when I am walking. The Japanese call this shinrin-yoku. Translated “shinrin” is forest and “yoku” means bath. Forest bathing is spending time in a natural environment, not necessarily a forest, and immersing all of your senses in it. It means turning off technology and giving yourself permission to take in the surrounding nature: the song of a Western Meadow Lark, the colors and arrangement of nature – plants, boulders water, clouds, the scents of blossoms and trees, a breeze's briskness.
The benefits of taking a break with nature are decreased blood pressure, increased energy, better focus and sleep, and an improved mood. No training is required. You can go anytime, but I particularly enjoy this time of year. Not too hot, not too cold, and a lot of sounds, colors, and scents. My mood is already better just imagining it.
