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The holiday season is a great time for bringing outdoor plants into our homes. It is also a time when little ones (two- legged, four-legged or two-winged) with inquisitive minds can get into trouble with these attractive ornaments. So, be berry, berry careful to place them accordingly. About 20 holly berries can cause death, so eating holly berries is a serious concern for children and pets. Though the berries are the part that is usually eaten, bark, leaves, and seeds are toxic. Jerusalem Cherry is a species of nightshade bearing poisonous fruit which can cause gastric upset and vomiting in people, but generally is not life-threatening. Fruits are extremely toxic to dogs and cats and some birds. The fruit resembles a cherry tomato, both in appearance and flavor, so kids and pets may eat enough to cause illness, or in the case of pets, even death. Poinsettias are not particularly dangerous. Eating a few leaves may make one feel ill or vomit. Rubbing the sap from the plant into skin can give an itchy rash. Beyond that, this plant is unlikely to cause a problem for either humans or pets. Mistletoe is a name given to one of several plants, all potentially dangerous for kids and pets. Blurred vision, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood pressure changes, and even death may develop by eating parts of mistletoe. All parts of the mistletoe plant are poisonous, though it is the berries that may be most attractive to kids. Eating one or two berries probably will not cause a problem for a child, but a small pet could be endangered by eating a few leaves or berries. An amaryllis bulb is a common holiday gift. Amaryllis, daffodil, and narcissus bulbs may be forced indoors to produce showy holiday flowers. Eating bulbs (and leaves, though they are less toxic) can cause abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, and convulsions. Cyclamen is a flowering plant commonly seen around the winter holidays. Cyclamen tubers can cause nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and paralysis. This plant is more of a concern for pets than humans. In fact, some cyclamen cultivars are favored for their delicate flavor and use in tea. Cedars, pines, and firs are very mildly toxic. The biggest concern here is the possibility of puncturing part of the gastrointestinal tract from eating needles, though the tree oils may cause irritation of the mouth and skin. Toxicity might be affected by whether the tree had been sprayed with a flame retardant. People don't usually eat Christmas trees. Even a dog is unlikely to eat enough of the tree to cause a problem. So, bring in the plants, the kids and the pets but keep them separated. Happy Holidays! ~ Leonard Tavernetti Beaumont Blooms Above: Jerusalem Cherries Left: Holiday Berries CLUBS & GROUpS | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2014 39 On Dec. 9 at 9:30 am, we will meet in the Lodge to discuss The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. An ordinary newly-retired couple in a small English town lead an uneventful life until Harold receives a letter from Queenie, who he had worked with 20 years prior. As he went to post his reply, Harold kept passing one post box after another. Then he met a girl who convinced him that as long as he kept walking his friend in hospice 600 miles away would not die. His adventure and the unusual and often friendly people he meets make this a charming and sometimes funny story. Nancy Horan, author of Loving Frank, calls it "a moving story about an ordinary man on an extraordinary journey." We hope you will join us at our meeting. If you have any questions regarding the Book Club, please call Doreen Sanders at (951) 769-1913. ~ Mary Lou Keating Book Club