Are Sunflowers Toxic To Cats

I cannot even brush a bare arm against aleaf without an immediate burning reaction; but I can eat the fruit. As gardeners and lovers of the outdoors, it's a good idea to understand which plants we should take care to avoid--or at least take precautions...

It is also used as a cardiac drug and in treating Parkinson's disease. In the Harry Potter books, nothing can prevent a person from turning into a werewolf if he has been bitten by one, but wolfsbane potion can be used as a guard against its worst effects.Aconitum...

A miniature form of its parent, Euphorbia x martinii, with an extremely long blooming period. Two exceptional Euphorbia introductions this past year,had already been planted in the gardens, but wouldn't they look terrific in containers as well?

Ricin irritates the intestines and causes, for lack of a more gentile term, rapid purging. The fruits are used by children as slingshot balls. The death of an adult from castor beans is slow and agonizing.The bean's poisonous substance, ricin, is one...

'the holly and the ivy...')There have been numerous ‘reports' and stories aboutSo far as I have learned, there is nothing actually toxic about most conifer saps or needles, but the fertilizers or preservatives added to the water in which the trees sit...

The oxalic acid content in sorrel can be reduced by parboiling before cooking.Along about the same time, around the early eighteenth century, a tea made from sorrel root was long recommended by herbalists as a diuretic, but its use is not a valid idea...

Plants arise from a thick, tapering root. In shadier sites, staking may be required. Now you can get white, pale blue, various shades of pink and even yellow. They generally resent transplanting and will sulk their first year but then they rebound, perhaps...

And of course it is directed toward pets which, as a veterinarian, I find particularly useful.However, it still is woefully lacking of practical information, most notably degree of toxicity.is listed as a toxic plant, but there is no discussion of HOW...

The following article will introduce the reader to some of these interesting, but highly toxic plants. Primarily of Central American origin with many species extending into the very southern United States (and at least one species is native toMost of...

It was a wonderful, exciting experience for me, as a city girl, and I remembered it the first time I ever harvested a sunflower hat from my own garden.A field of sunflowers blooming is the most beautiful sight! Their yellow heads standing up, against...

From the root, and adding any leftover dried leaves, she made a decoction by boiling three times in water. After she caught her breath from the climb she started telling me about comfrey:"Comfrey," she said, "grew in the Garden of Eden.

Everyone knows that eating beans may have a socially undesirable effect on the digestive system. It should be noted that the level of PHA is highest in seeds, and green beans are usually consumed for the sake of the green fleshy pod, at a stage when the...

I don't know what their official name is, but they are wonderful and invaluable. But when you adopt a hobby, you do crazy things sometimes.Finally got the plant cleaned up and several large pieces removed.

A few weeks turned into a month, and August rolled around. I asked my ma if he uz breathin', and my ma said he wuz, but for me to stand back. I really didn't recognize the seeds, but I went ahead and planted them in a very large container along with a...

In 1812, McMahon sent cuttings to Thomas Jefferson, who planted them in his garden. As with all wild plants, you should be very careful to determine if that plant is protected before collecting any plant material.The western snowberry does have a bit...

The horizontal image is by Laura Hubers, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the foliage photo by Jerry Oldenettel, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons. The photo on the upper left is by Sandy Smith, courtesy of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

For the most part, no one would ever consider eating any of these plants.But most of us have enjoyed a cashew or two or two hundred and twenty two. TAccording to Wikipedia, 32 countries of the world produce a total of 3.1 million tons of cashews a year.

It was something I always questioned her about, because I loved it so much. I guess they finally got me pried from the petticoat, and I hope Aunt Ruby told them the real story, because there was not one thing wrong with me.

The Wikipedia article asserted that they are 75 times more toxic than ricin, though no source was cited to corroborate this statistic. Teas are also made with the leaves, which contain less concentrated amounts of abrin, to treat fevers, coughs and colds.I...

The boys sauntered on by, as if they did not know we were there. I loved looking at virgin's bower, it is also known as old man's beard because of the long, feathery beard-like tail on its fruit.

I suspect castor oil, a common cure-all for digestive complaints, was frequently employed, but the affected individuals did not improve. The weed still grows prolifically throughout the country, especially in the midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,...

At the same time, it can be a skin irritant. I am taking you for a ride in my time machine, back to the late 40's when there was no concern about invasive plants. It restricts the growth and reproduction of surrounding plants.

Most annuals are dead. He might have spent the next five days in the hospital. Jewelweed does not grow around here. Well, maybe not quite, but it was as close to autumn in Vermont as we are going to get around here.Poison oak is ubiquitous in the local...

Some commercial products can be applied before contact to prevent or at least lessen exposure.es turn brilliant red in fall. Poison Sumac grows as far west as Idaho (though only in the southern part); the plant prefers swamps and bogs, or other very wet...

Sensitive plants can spread to 5 feet as they creep along the ground.Just because the sensitive plant is nontoxic doesn't necessarily mean it is completely safe for cats. The plant is a showy one.

When a ripe pod is turned down, tiny brown or black seeds will spill out. Hundreds of seed will fall. The "fox's gloves" change to resemble turtle's beaks, and split in the middle.

Mouse over images for additional information -- just hover your cursor over the picture, and a pop-up caption will appear. For example, you might try using crinkly plastic grocery bags, but the handle loops could be a real hazard (just cut them open).Repeat...