Comments on: Is it a Harbinger of Spring, or of DEATH???

By: Megan

Megan — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:44:17 +0000

Holy moly – I’d hope no passers by would eat/cut/pick my plants/put them in their eyes. Whether or not it’s true that euphorbias cause problems, there are plenty of other poisonous plants in gardens. At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, get off my lawn. (of course there is no lawn, but still).

By: Антон Павлович

Антон Павлович — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:29:09 +0000

Before I was a gardener, I had no idea about the subtlety of [....... Страхово наверное ......

By: ilse ackermann

ilse ackermann — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:41:40 +0000

I’ve got Euphorbia’s, oleanders, brugmansia…..you name it. I like to think my daughters aren’t silly enough to go munching on mommy’s garden!

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:32:00 +0000

But Summer, now I’m re-thinking the whole “Urban Legend’ thing because I’m FROM South Texas! Maybe I heard about it because it happened close to my house or something! YIKES!
Yes – I agree – kids should really not be wandering around putting plants in their mouths. Thankfully, most of the gardening Moms I know are the cool, tough kind that teach their kids and don’t freak out easily!

Susan M.! Doll! Yes – plants do NOT uproot themselves and go bounding around trying to find children to give rashes to. But the woman who rang my doorbell did not know this – I think she was one step away from calling the police! … and I tend to encourage house-eating plants, so maybe THAT’s why I’ve never had a problem with Euphorbia sap! XO!

Sweet, again, you KILL me! If I was on the Landscaping Committee with you, we would have kicked everybody’s ass – even if there was nobody else on the committee. We’d kick ass all over the place! I can’t WAIT to see your garden!!! Wait – THAT deserves an EXTRA exclamation point or two … !!

Hey Chrisitina, don’t you know I make it a habit of walking around in your brain? If you pay very close attention, you’ll feel me bumping around…
Over the years, I’ve planted so many – but the ones I love the most are E. wulfenii, E. x martinii, and E. ‘Blackbird’. But every time I plant a new one THAT becomes my favorite! I’m so promiscuous! And I KNOW you are going to create the DEFINITIVE Euphorbia post – you always hit it out of the park!
XO!

By: Plantiis

Plantiis — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:53:34 +0000

Beauty that stings, love it!

By: Christina Salwitz

Christina Salwitz — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:42:24 +0000

Ivette,
A Euphorbia post! How did you crawl into my brain for that one? I am SO passionate about this family of plants! I’ve been a collector for years and have tried all of the hardy varieties that I can get my hands on waaaay up here, which is actually quite a number.
I’m planning a whole Euphorbia profile for later on this year- hope I can hold a candle to yours!
On the poisonous point: It never fails that at Christmas time there is that old inevitable debate that comes up about this plant family which other bloggers SO deftly handled last season.
My take on it, as a response? If your kid or your pet is eating more than enough of that plant to get a stomach ache, then you have WAY bigger problems than the plant!!!
Great job!

By: Rebecca Sweet

Rebecca Sweet — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:10:12 +0000

My favorite, favorite, FAVORITE plants are Euphorbias. I can’t wait for you to come to my garden and see for yourself!!! And you know what? I get that sap all OVER my skin and I’ve never had a rash or one little itch. And I tend to have fussy skin, too. Nary a red bump! Though I definitely don’t use it as an eye-wash, I tend to think it’s dependent on the variety, and the person – I’ve planted them at almost every garden I’ve designed, and believe me, I get a TON of emails from former clients asking about this or that, and have never heard from anyone about losing an arm to sap…..but that’s not to say it couldn’t happen…I’m just sayin’ people…

Oh – and regarding that woman who rang your doorbell? I think she was a mom at our elementary school, who once scolded me for planting something w/potentially poisonous berries that her TODDLER was trying to eat. I asked her if she’d heard about Darwin’s Theory…honest to God….and she stormed off. I was sure I’d get kicked off the Landscaping Committee, but when I realized I was the only one ON the Landscaping Committee I high-fived myself and gave myself a promotion…

By: susan morrison (garden chick)

susan morrison (garden chick) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:08:10 +0000

Well here’s my solution – I like to plant things but I don’t like to take care of them. So no worries with Euphorbia or anything because if its at my house itit will probably only get pruned if it’s in danger of eating the house.

Did the doorbell-ringing mommy understand that although plants are alive, they can’t actually chase you down and lick you with their sappy, poison-dripping leaves?

By: Summer

Summer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:21:57 +0000

Or tomatoes.
P.S. I love how the title “Confessions of a Flower Hater” appears right next to that gorgeous Blackbird bloom.

By: Summer

Summer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:18:15 +0000

Hmm… if you guys have heard of the oleander roast, it *must* be an urban legend, because I thought that happened in south Tx. Anyway, gorgeous photos. I love euphorbias and have several of them, which my cats have never bothered. Any kid young enough to stick random plants in his/her mouth should not be allowed to wander in strange gardens. And yeah, there are tons of other plants that are toxic, but who ever gripes about tomatos?