To warn you all about the dangers of Foxgloves?

[Outfoxgloved]

Yes. I am unreasonable for sticking this in AIBU. Yes I'm fully aware that it's not at all unreasonable to warn someone about something dangerous.

Yes I'm also aware this post outs me, and so that's why I've name changed.

I'm hoping it's not against the rules to share a blog here? If it is, feel free to delete :) I shall take it like a woman.

Some of you may know the other me on here (since you know the story) please don't out me!

The story of what happened to DD2 last year

I had no idea they were poisonous - and I garden, I'm of the age where you'd think this sort of gardening folklore was passed on, if that makes sense. I know about laburnum - that's the extent of it.

Your poor DD, and poor you and your DH - I can't begin to imagine what you went through. The thought that if that had been me I'd have treated for norovirus is horrifying.

I had no idea they are that toxic, I am sorry it happened. You poor buggers but well done on having that thought about the similarity of dock/foxglove leaves.

That was beautifully written, OP.
So glad your little one is ok.

Poor you!

I've always kept animals so refuse to have foxgloves. Horrible plants

Thank you all

And thanks for reassuring me that people do need to know.

It's not about worrying about them. It's about having the possibility in your head.

Thank you lovely Zombie :o

I had no idea we love fox gloves our front garden has loads. DC don't play at the front but walk past them and I always said don't touch them they could have bees in them now it'll be they are poisonous.

DD3 2years was rushed to hospital in October, kept in for a week and I can say the I'll be that overprotective mum now. Luckily she's fine now touch wood but the stress of it will never leave me. I grew up in Wales takes an age to travel so should be opening more hospitals not closing them! I have 3 big hospitals about 30-40 minute drive away seems unfair.

I cried reading your story so glad she's okay now and thank you so much for sharing.

Thank you for sharing your story (very well written and easy to read BTW)

I'm getting my fence re done soon and I'll ask them to dig up the foxglove in front of it while they're at it. Thank you.

Foxgloves are the source of Digitalin which is a cardiac medicine so if you eat it you are liable to be ill, just touching it shouldn't cause any problems though.

Glad your daughter has recovered. I'm surprised that unless googled there's no common knowledge about toxic plants. Lily of the valley is also toxic and lilies in general are poisonous for cats.

Along the same lines but Rhubarb leaves are another dangerous one - obviously you can eat the stems but the leaves themselves are poisonous. There were lots of cases of poisoning in WW1 when they were mistakenly listed as food.

I did know they were poisonous but not how poisonous IYSWIM. I have a nearly 3 year old who doesn't have form for this but with a sister who will be walking by the summer it's not really worth the risk. My garden is hardly going to be entered in the Chelsea Flower Show

Thanks nosnow, the more knowledge on this the better.

Foxgloves are particularly nasty because it's not just the digitalis in them that cause problems. There are three separate poisons, all of which can cause complications.

Thank you for posting - and you write so well. Yes, I knew they were poisonous but didn't realise how deadly.

Thanks op, thank you.

I brought some fox gloves last year - faintly heard they were bad and did some reading up about them and took them straight back, not worth the risk, James Bond casino Royale, when he collapses in the car, its dixogin from foxgloves.

very dangerous your poor little girl.,

infact once I think it was Ticthmarch on BBC actually did something about foxgloves and said something like - children call them something bells lovely to touch. I wrote in abot encouraging dc to touch them and got a caustic reply.

Cuckoo pint also called lords and ladies. (shiny green leaves that look like lettuce or sorrel and have a pretty flower like a madonna lily- grows in soggy shady places like my garden). That's poisonous too. Fortunately DD spat the leaf out so only had a tummy ache and a sore mouth, if she had eaten the flower it could have been fatal. She thought it was lettuce, I had no idea it was poisonous.

Thanks for writing about your experience, just so glad you realised in time and she got the care she needed. Bloody brilliant NHS, even in the back of beyond.

Thank you for posting your beautifully written blog. What a dreadful experience for Esme, you and your family. So pleased to read that she made a full recovery. xx

I didn't know about foxgloves. I am glad your little girl is ok for you both and thanks for sharing

Thank goodness you knew and your daughter recovered.
My other half loves foxgloves and we have a gap that needs a tall colourful plant - so guess what I collected seeds last year and scattered them. Will uproot them if any e as it's not a chance I want to take...

Thank you for sharing your story. At the beginning of the blog I did wonder if you were talking about BG hospital as it is my 'local' one too (albeit 30 minutes away). We have foxgloves in the garden here and whilst I knew they were poisonous, I wasn't aware quite how dangerous they are. I'll be sure to pull any out when they appear as I have a very inquisitive 5 year old who loves to pick my lovingly planted flowers. So glad your DD is OK.

Lucky you knew - and so glad she's OK: my DF used to dig them out of the garden when there were still small children around - they have the potential to be deadly, and if I had children, I would absolutely not have them in my garden (though I love them) Euphorbia are also not great to have in the garden when you have small people about. And you can be as careful as careful, but it takes one second when you're not concentrating for a toddler to slip something into their mouth.

The other thing that is surprisingly iffy for small children is fallen fruit - especially damsons and plums: it doesn't take many to make them stonkingly drunk, and they continue to ferment in their stomachs afterwards, which can cause further problems.

Thank you op. I didn't know about foxgloves. Your little dd looks the absolute image of my own 2yo dd which made your story even more vivid and scary.
So relieved for you that she was ok.

to you and esme. Ps they're not foxgloves

I didn't know about foxgloves so thank you.

When dd was 2 we went to the botanic gardens in Edinburgh. I was chatting to a friend whilst the kids played and suddenly realised dd had a mouthful of something. I asked her and she said 'blueberries that are orange' and opened her mouth to show a mouth crammed with random berries. I must've taken my eyes off her for 30 seconds max. It's so so so easily done. Luckily she was fine but bloody hell toddlers are a law unto themselves!