I too am EXTREMELY SENSITIVE to poison ivy and recently broke out in a similar rash after being careless while propagating my all time favorite plant, the philodendron micans. I also suspected that had to be it so I took a fresh cutting and dabbed the sap several times in my arm and didn't wash off for a few hours. Somewhere between 12 & 24 hours later, I started feeling that familiar itch and watched as my test patch gradually spread out the size of a dime and rose up with the little tiny bubble pattern I'm used to seeing with poison ivy rash. THIS SUCKS! I'm in the middle of battling it right now and in my research found this helpful article. I also read another helpful tip that said the sap from these plants can somehow penetrate through standard medical gloves so thicker gardening type gloves should be used when propagating and caution should also be taken when refreshing propagation water. I plant to purchase some thick, SOLID rubber gloves that can easily be thoroughly washed. NOT those gardening gloves that have a breathable section at the back of the hand and wrists! You should also clean the tools you use and the work area. Rubbing alcohol AT LEAST 70% grade is known to be effective for cleaning tools that have come in contact with poison ivy so I plan on implementing that. As well as never shortcutting again by taking rushed cuttings and not doing the basics like laying out a protective mat and immediately washing my hands afterwards. I lazily let my NUMEROUS cuttings drop to the floor (CARPET!) and I know I didn't wash my hands right away like I normally do. A couple hours later I laid on this floor in a tank top and got a mild rash a day later across my upper back and shoulder area as well as my ear lobes which I believe is from handling my earbuds right after propagating my favorite plant. PLEASE MAKE MY PAIN WORTH IT AND LET THIS BE A LESSON TO YOU... PUH-LEAZE!

You are welcome and sorry I could not give you what you hoped for. Fact is you have a puppy, they chew everything in site, and Orleander is toxic (fatal in moderate doses), especially the flowers and leaves. Try these tips: Raise the canopy beyond puppies reach so he cannot have direct access to leaves and flowers. Have a hose or sprayer ready so when puppy shows interest in the offense, spray him and say NOOOOOOO! Be the Pack Leader of your dog and family. Set firm rules which are not negotiable. The dog has to know who is BOSS with no questions asked.

Yummy! Good idea- blueberries will be fun. No problem at all with the oleander. I had my tomatoes under an oleander for a few years and never once had a problem. If you do get oleander sap in your mouth, by the way, you will know it immediately. The bitter taste is accompanied by a burning sensation, different from hot peppers, more like a chemical burn. It takes a few hours to go away. I don't recommend it. Tastes worse than pill bugs. I will never understand why that dog kept chewing on it. Renee

no they are not. in fact the ants will carry the aphinds up on the plants and kill the plants. i don't get black ants in my garden, i get fire ants. they will actually eat pretty much any plant you ahve out there.