Judith in France wrote:

Do you remember you posted a pic for me last Summer of the Oleander in
a pot that the villagers gave us? I brought it into the barn for the
Winter and kept it almost dry. Now it's back outside lush and green
with flower buds and it's put on new growth, I will post a pic when it
is in flower.

They are in flower in Spain and Germany now.

On 4/7/08 17:26, in article , "stuart
noble" wrote:

Sacha wrote:
On 4/7/08 15:46, in article , "K"
wrote:

Saxman writes
beccabunga wrote:

Beware - they are one of the most poisonous plants. All parts are
highly toxic.
I'm surprised they used for public display in such quantities then?
As others have said, locals are very aware of their toxicity. And they
are ideally suited for their purpose, which is to provide shade for
people travelling along the road - lots of dense growth in summer and an
ability to tolerate a fairly hostile growing environment.
Decorativeness is a bonus.

The other factor is that a lot of Med inhabitants still take food from the
wild and know what is and isn't safe. On the whole, that isn't something we
seem to do much in this country any more.


Last year when I was picking blackberries in the local park, a schoolboy
asked me what I was collecting. Sad isn't it? A true taste delight that,
literally, money can't buy.

It's almost incredible! Poor child.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

Living in Baden-Baden I tried to grow Oleander but was only susccesfull with pots which I take into the house in winter. Although the climate here is milder than elsewhere in Germany the occasional frost will kill the plant. Also the city takes all its plant into their greenhouses during the winter months.