Theda Bara

Roxann had just discovered that having oleander flowers on her desk at work is a good way to get alarmed looks for the rest of the office. She came in with a sprig she'd picked and told me that one of the other office staff came running out after her to tell her they were poison--they'd attack her nervous system, etc. She was utterly shocked when I told her he was right and sent her this link. Boy, my herbology may not be the greatest, but ask me about deadly poisons . . . I imagine she will get a good razzing about this for awhile to come. It's something you're warned about as a kid growing up in southern Arizona--despite being from the Mediteranean, oleanders are everywhere. But I guess you don't get that if you grow up in other parts of the country. And they're such pretty flowers . . .

Incidentally, oleanders, rosemary, and palo verde are the three plants around here that are almost impossible to get rid of once they're established--and two of the three are actually Mediteranean natives. Oleanders and rosemary you have to take out by the roots (and they do runners, so it's a pain in the ass). Palo verde trees you pretty much chop off at the ground, soak with gasoline, and then burn the stump.