Fourteen Ways to Avoid Plant Poisoning

1. Become familiar with the dangerous plants in your area, yard and home. Know them by sight and name.
2. Do not eat wild plants and mushrooms.
3. Keep plants, seeds, fruits and bulbs away from children.
4. Teach children at an early age to keep unknown plants and plant parts out of their mouths. Make them aware of the potential danger of poisonous plants.
5. Teach children to recognize poison ivy.
6. Be certain you know the plants used as skewars for meat or marshmallows.
7. Do not allow children to suck nectar from flowers or make "tea" from leaves.
8. Know the plant before eating its fruits or berries.
9. Do not rely on pets, birds or squirrels to indicate non-poisonous plants.
10. Avoid smoke from burning plants.
11. Remember, heating and cooking do not always destroy the toxic substance.
12. Store labelled bulbs and seeds safely away from children and pets.
13. Do not make homemade medicines from native or cultivated plants.
14. Remember, there are no safe "tests" or "rules of thumb" for distinguishing edible from poisonous plants.