Be careful of These Garden Plants
A reference guide to protecting your self and your family from poisonous plants. In our last installment, we told you how Highland Hill Farm just doesn't sell and install "landscaping beauty," but provides food and raw materials. we told you about Edible Wild Plants. Additionally, we want to tell you what are NOT edible, what are inedible. Even if you know already, let us remind you:

Posted Monday, January 16, 2006

In our last installment, we told you how Highland Hill Farm just doesn't sell and install "landscaping beauty," but provides food and raw materials. we told you about Edible Wild Plants. Additionally, we want to tell you what are NOT edible, what are inedible. Even if you know already, let us remind you:

Wild Plants That Are Poisonous

Remember always, anytime you want to eat something that's wild: When in doubt, leave it out. Poisonous doesn't mean deadly all the time, but who wants to get even sick?

Nightshade is recognizable by its purple and yellow flower. Don't even handle a lot and then rub your eyes or put your fingers to your mouth. Dogwood trees and flowers are poisonous, we can ONLY EAT THE BERRIES. Houndstoungue, which looks like the big dog's long tounge. Wild rose plant beyond the rose hips, IS poisonous.

MOST mushrooms. Remember they're fungus. Actually, mushrooms are the fruit of a fungus. Although only only about 1% will cause death, quite a few more can cause sickness. There are thousands of different mushrooms and other things that look like 'em, like toadstools, so don't eat ANY unless you are absolutely sure they're safe. And, don't rely on the old notion that if you cook 'em and they don't turn black, all's well. Mushrooms do have some wonderful anti-oxidants, like ergothionome

RED elderberries are poisonous. The purple ones are okay. Fertilizers and soil ammendments like man-made Ammonium Nitrate, Hydrated Lime or even natural manure can be poisonous when concentrated. Remember not to rub your eyes or touch your mouth while working with these materials.

And yes, like mom always said, wash your hands before eating.

About the Author

Bill Hirst has been raising trees and plants for 35 yearsin Doylestown Pa.