A Christmas Story & Hazardous Holiday Plants
I hope you are enjoying this beautiful season.
Be sure and read the article about the hazards of Holiday plants.
Merry Christmas & Warm Winter wishes,
~Gj
it's not easy being green...
First Christmas
author: (c) Stan Rogers
This day a year ago, he was rolling in the snow
With a younger brother in his father's yard
Christmas break, a time for touching home,
the heart of all he'd known
And leaving was so hard.
Three thousand miles away,
now he's working Christmas Day
Making double time for the minding of the store
Well he always said, he'd make it on his own
He's spending Christmas Eve alone
First Christmas away from home
She's standing by the train station,
pan-handling for change
Four more dollars buys a decent meal and a room
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all,
in a crowded sleeping hall
That echoes like a tomb
But it's warm and clean and free,
and there are worse places to be
At least it means no beating from her Dad
And if she cries because it's Christmas Day
She hopes that it won't show
First Christmas away from home
In the apartment stands a tree,
and it looks so small and bare
Not like it was meant to be,
Golden angel on the top
It's not that same old silver star,
you wanted for your own
First Christmas away from home
In the morning, they get prayers,
then it's crafts and tea downstairs
Then another meal back in his little room
Hoping maybe that "the boys"
will think to phone before the day is gone
Well, it's best they do it soon.
When the "old girl" passed away,
he fell apart more every day
Each had always kept the other pretty well
But the kids all said the nursing home was best
Cause he couldn't live alone
First Christmas away from home.
In the common room they've got the biggest tree
And it's huge and cold and lifeless
Not like it ought to be,
and the lit-up flashing Santa Claus on top
It's not that same old silver star,
you once made for your own
First Christmas away from home.
HAZARDOUS HOLIDAY PLANTS
The poinsettia, everyone's favorite holiday plant, has gotten a bum rap for a number of years. It's been falsely accused of being poisonous, yet no deaths from this plant have ever been recorded. In fact, research studies at Ohio State University have proven that poinsettias present no health hazard.
The rumors arise from a highly questionable report of a single fatality in Hawaii more than 75 years ago, a child who reportedly died after eating one leaf. However, that doesn't mean the poinsettia doesn't have toxic properties. If ingested, it can irritate the mouth and stomach, sometimes resulting in diarrhea or vomiting.
The sap may cause a poison ivy-like blistering on contact with the skin unless washed off immediately. That's why it's important to place poinsettias, and other holiday plants, out of the reach of children and curious pets.
How safe are other holiday plants? Here's the rundown on plants with toxic properties.
HOLLY: Eating the bright, red berries of this plant will cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
JEQUIRITY BEAN (Indian prayer bean): This black-tipped, scarlet bean is used in many dry arrangements. The seed is poisonous if eaten and can cause death.
JERUSALEM CHERRY: Every part of this plant contains toxic substances. Eating the fruit or foliage will adversely affect the heart.
MISTLETOE: Acute stomach and intestinal disorders result from nibbling on the greenish, white berries.
YEW: The leaves, seeds, bark, and twigs of this evergreen can be toxic, causing breathing difficulties, uncontrollable trembling, and vomiting.
Babies, in particular, seem fascinated by the bright berries and shiny or colorful leaves found on many holiday plants and are often tempted to take a bite. Although few plants cause death, you should contact your local poison control center or poison control unit of your local hospital if you suspect your child has eaten any leaves, berries, or flowers of a plant.
article courtesy of:
Dr. Leonard Perry
Extension Professor
Special Christmas link:
posted by Greenjeans @ 8:16 PM
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