The tradition continues as FNBO, Westlake Ace Hardware, and Sarin Energy Solutions present the
21st Annual Luminary Walk
Kick-off the holiday season with a family walk through the lights at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
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uring the three weekends following Thanksgiving, take a stroll along the lit pathways to see intricate Gnome and Fairy Villages, serene winter woods by candlelight, and the colorful Children’s Garden. Enjoy musical performances in four different locations and a horse-drawn wagon ride through the forest, while the quiet woods are lit with candles lining the walkways. The gardens are bright with color. Trees, buildings, and bridges are all part of the show, with thousands of lights aglow. For a quieter “Date Night” experience, a Candlelight Stroll will be held Thursday, December 3rd. The Luminary Walk is the major fundraiser for the Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA). All proceeds benefit the Arboretum.
Pets & Plants Dracaena By Phil Roudebush, DVM, DACVIM
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racaena species, especially red-marginated dracaena (D. marginata), are attractive, stiff-leaved, evergreen plants with sword-like leaves. There are over a hundred different species with most native to Africa and southern Asia. Many species of Dracaena are grown as low-maintenance houseplants due to their tolerance of lower light, a wide range of indoor temperatures and sparse watering. Other common names include corn plant, cornstalk plant, ribbon plant, Spanish dagger and (Madagascar) dragon tree. These plants can be potentially poisonous to both dogs and cats, although cats seem to prefer chewing on the leaves. In a recent review of poisonous events involving dogs and cats in the United States, ingestion of plant material from dracaena specimens was the second most common plant poisoning in cats. The toxic chemicals in the leaves are called saponins and they
cause direct irritation of tissues they contact. Clinical signs in both cats and dogs include vomiting, occasionally with blood, appetite loss, abdominal pain, excessive drooling, weakness and dilated pupils (cats only). These signs can begin within thirty minutes of eating the plant. Treatment includes purging plant material from the body, rinsing the mouth vigorously with water and symptomatic or supportive care. Prognosis is good beyond the obvious gastrointestinal discomfort. Enjoy these distinctive houseplants but be especially careful if there are cats in the household. Phil Roudebush is a retired veterinarian and specialist in small animal internal medicine. He was an Extension Master Gardener in Shawnee County, Kansas before moving to western North Carolina five years ago, where he is an Extension Master Gardener in Buncombe County. He can be reached at philroudebush@gmail.com.
For the Safety of All • All tickets are date and time-specific. • The number of tickets sold for entry within half-hour timeframes is limited, allowing for social distancing between families. • Expanded operating hours - 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. (1½ hours longer than previous years). • To keep Santa safe, he will not be with us this year. • The visitor center will not be open for refreshments. • To operate with fewer volunteers, trains in the train garden will not be running, and portions of the candlelit path will be switched to electric lights. To protect all guests, as well as our volunteers, masks are required. Schedule 4:30 – 10:00 each night (Last admittance is 9:00.) Friday, November 27, 2020 Saturday, November 28, 2020 Friday, December 4, 2020 Saturday, December 5, 2020 Friday, December 11, 2020 Saturday, December 12, 2020 $14.00 per person; free for age 5 and under $2.00 discount for members of Friends of the Arboretum when purchased online with promo code. Free Parking No Pets Ticket purchase, refund and exchange policy, and cancellation due to weather details are found at https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/ luminary-walk/. Also found here is further information on the Candlelight Stroll on Thursday, December 3rd.
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens 8909 W. 179th St. Overland Park KS 66013 The Kansas City Gardener | November 2020
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