[SolReaver]

After all...he is a shrubbist, I am not

I do know about the velocity of laden swallows vs. unladen swallows in both the African and European species...However, I had never SEEN one of these things up close and this one never flowered, so I didn't know it was Oleander until AFTER the fact.. . I am not likely to make THAT mistake again. I did talk to an old friend of mine (yes, I have friends) on the subject and she said that they are GREAT plants for privacy hedges. And as highway dividers, erosion control, and the like...fine with me. But...In the front yard of a residential neighborhood planted next to the house? It probably looked fine at three feet tall, but that was a while ago.

I Don't know why my reaction was so pronounced. Protective clothing and regular precautions would probably do it for most people doing the work. I just rolled along and treated it like any other shrub. The phrase "ignorance is bliss" as well as "what you don't know won't hurt you" do not apply. I am fine now thanks, chalk it up to experience and move on.

It is a 14 footer growing half a foot from the house . It and several boxwood hedges have to go to do some grading and drainage work. I will try to save the plants I can and relocate them or give them away. But the Oleander....Nobody wants it and I can't keep it. Anybody wants it...PM me. Dig it out and it is yours. i will even throw in a 6 pack for not having to deal with it.

I will try and familiarize myself with the other dangerous flora and fauna around here. In the meantime I will still avoid the Tarantula that hangs around out back. Yea, probably not poisonous, but any spider that big that moves that fast...I am avoiding.