[SolReaver]

Hey guys, just a little tidbit to share...

I was doing some clearing of brush that is growing against the house a few days ago and thought nothing of it, until later on that night when I woke up with a weird stinging sensation on my skin and a decidedly unhappy queasy feeling. OK, after a bad night I went on with my business and never guessed at the cause. I wanted to see what kind of bushes I was going to move, or just rip out and so I researched what plants they were.

Oleander. Yep. It turns out that this decorative shrub is POISONOUS. WTF?? According to Wikipedia, the stuff is downright scary and kills in small quantities. Now I am not the brightest bulb on the tree folks, but even at my worst moments I would not consider buying and planting something that is potentially lethal to dogs, cats, horses, deer, well....just about everything but some kinds of caterpillars (or so I hear) and if THAT isn't disturbing enough, this one has somehow spread toxic sap all around. WHY on EARTH would anybody want one of these things? WHAT part of "poisonous invasive species" is unclear?

SO, in defense of my toxic plant, I will have to say that it is a healthy, green, and rather large shrubbery with pretty flowers...yea. It pruned down nicely (little did I know when pruning it was trying to kill me) and it makes a nice topiary shape. BUT it is POISONOUS! you can kill little birdies in the trees or anything else that breathes by burning its dried leaves. Truly sorry here, but it is NOT that pretty and the PO planted it 6 inches from the house!

WHY do people plant these things? WHY? WHY? WHY? How about I just propagate some poison sumac or grow poison Ivy up a trellis?

The only good part of the story is that I no longer have to wonder about which plant to get rid of first and whether I am going to try and save it. It seems that the Craigslist in my area has several free to a good home Oleanders..Yea...I will be jumping right on THAT bandwagon and joining the Oleander gardening group REAL soon....NOT. I will be dressing up in a moon suit with gloves and yanking that killer bush right out. Only problem is...How do I dispose of it? I guess cutting it up and putting it in bags or something like toxic waste. Not gonna burn it. I like the birds and I gotta breathe too.