Page 21 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 4 May 2023

Gardening
Travel

weight, if swallowed, can result in
serious poisoning! Avoid this deadly
duo at all costs. WHAT TO DO IN

CANNABIS
With the changes in legislation A POISONING
regarding the cultivation of ‘doobie’ for
personal use, some of us may be keen
to nurture a little stash in the bottom EMERGENCY
of the garden. But, before you light
up, give some clear thought to the fact
that if a dog or cat swallows a dagga If you suspect your pet has
butt, he can become extremely ill. eaten or been exposed to a
CBD products, with the hallucinogenic poisonous plant, as with any
properties removed, can have various veterinary emergency, the
health benefits for pets. But the plant key is to act quickly. Take
includes THC cannabinoids which cause photos of the suspected
severe side-effects in pets and should offending plant, or take a
always be kept safely out of reach. Take piece of it along to show
care if you opt to proceed with weed ! the vet.
The majority of plant
SYRINGA toxicity cases show
Although a very popular plant in similar symptoms*:
South African gardens, the majestic • Drooling
syringa, with its lilac flowers, dark • Vomiting
leaves, cream-coloured berries • Diarrhoea
and much-admired fragrance on a
summer evening, is actually an exotic, • Abdominal cramping
originally from India. The berries • Tremors
are often munched by unsuspecting • Seizures
dogs, livestock and children and are • Disorientation
extremely toxic, resulting in severe • Dilated pupils
abdominal cramping, vomiting, • Listlessness.
diarrhoea, tremors and even death.

SO WHAT CAN I PLANT?

At this point, you’re probably If you’d like to incorporate certain
wondering whether ripping up the toxic plants in your chosen garden
whole garden and laying paving might designs, what about creating a space
be the best idea. But don’t call in the with all access to pets restricted?
bulldozers just yet. There are plenty of You could even go a step further
plants that are perfectly safe for our and plant them their very own
furry family members to frolic in and pet-friendly patch on a specially
around (and even to take the odd nibble designated part of the property
of . . .). Herbs like Sage, Dill, Parsley, where they can play, chew, chase
Rosemary, Mint, Thyme and Lavender and dig in complete safety and with
are great pet-friendly options, as are reckless abandon. Make it a pet-
Violets, Begonias, Snapdragons and fun-zone with splash pools for dogs,
Sunflowers, for a stunning spectacle. sandpits where they can happily dig
Morning glory The magnificent Bird of Paradise for toys and chews without upsetting Affican Violet
(Strelitzia) is a good guy and so are anyone, trees for kitties to climb and
daisies. Dogs and cats love nibbling on plenty of catnip or catmint plants,
grasses, which are safe for them. scrubby foliage and resilient grass
species to roll about on without
The staff at your local nursery or concerns about allergies. The only
garden store will be only too happy limit is your imagination. We are
to give you advice and a quick check fortunate in SA that our pets are
online also yields loads of helpful able to enjoy plenty of outdoor time.
information regarding toxic and safe Design them a garden-haven where
garden plants. Don’t forget to ask they can enjoy the sunshine and
about fertilisers and pesticides you fresh air in complete safety.
might plan to use in the garden. Use
of carbamate and organophosphate Here’s to safe places for pets and kids
insecticides on plants can lead to to do all the things that pets and kids
secondary poisoning of pets. love to do, without a care in the world.
Daisies
DPL issue 4 2023 19