Friday, October 14, 2011

Blooming Friday ~ Poisonous


Foxglove: poisonous but so lovely.








These summer and fall blooming lovelies are sweet to smell but not to eat. Supposedly they are even poisonous to Japanese Beetles, according to P. Allen Smith.



Azaleas are not poisonous to deer but they are to horses, so I don't plant them anywhere near the pastures. Horses do generally avoid poisonous plants but there's no reason to tempt a bored or curious horse. (btw when it comes to curiosity, cats don't have anything on horses!) ;)



Our native Coast Azalea, Rhododendron atlaticum



I can't write a post with the subject of poison without including everyone's least favorite native vine in the US, Poison Ivy!


It may have glorious fall color in rich shades of crimson and burgundy ~ in fact I've heard it's been imported to Europe, Australia and New Zealand because of its fall beauty ~ but it's to be avoided at all costs because of the itchy rash it produces if you're sensitive to it, and most people are.

Happy Friday, and join Katerina at roses and stuff for more Blooming Fridays!


18 comments:

  1. Lovely pictures!
    Have a nice weekend!
    /Malena

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  2. Although I have heard of poison ivy I had not seen a picture of it. It is very attractive when it colours up.

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  3. Beautiful photos....I love Foxgloves. Our poison ivy and the Virginia Creeper are putting on quite a show this fall...love the reds.

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  4. There is something poisonous about every plant I believe. Poison Ivy and I do not get along at all, it likes to send me to the Dr. when we meet. Also, the mango skin has the same dangerous oil as the poison ivy. Your bloomers are gorgeous!

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  5. Your photos are always so lovely and large...I like that.

    I know we have poison ivy around us here..but can never identify it easily, but now, looking at how the color changes, will pay more attention when I do my woodland strolls. Thank you.

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  6. So funny...I never would have thought of anyone growing poison ivy on purpose!

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  7. I hate poison ivy. I deal with it a lot on my property. Love foxglove and azalea, though. Not a lot of luck with growing either one.

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  8. I did hear that some European gardeners plant poison ivy for its glorious fall color. I have never been sensitive to it, and spend each year pulling it up, bare handed, from our back hill where it is taking over. Since I can handle poison ivy without problem, I do find it attractive for fall color --- it's just so rampant and chokes everything.

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  9. Beautiful but poisunous flowers. Have a nice weekend/Gela

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  10. I often have customers come in looking to re-landscape their homes with only non-poisonous plants. There are very few that have no toxins in them whatsoever.

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  11. Glorious display of flowers and foliage!!! I love this time of year!

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  12. Lovely post, Sweetbay ! The foxgloves are very dear to me ... I would like a garden full of them ...
    Have a nice weekend !

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  13. Gode billeder.
    Mange smukke blomster.
    Tak for kigget.

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  14. What an interesting post. I just love foxglove. Beautiful photos!

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  15. Your foxgloves are so pretty! I had forgotten they were poisonous, but I'd certainly plant them anyway. I have stayed away from castor bean and datura just because I worried my dog might get too curious. Cats, on the other hand, seem to know what to avoid.

    That is the most beautiful poison ivy I've ever seen, but I'm getting a little itchy just looking at it:)

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  16. Nice photos, I love the colour of the poison ivy.

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  17. Your beautiful shots of the Azaleas make me wish for spring! And we've got so many dark months ahead of us...
    Have a nice week!

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