Dangers, benefits of gardening go along with spring

They say the nurses at the Nebraska Regional Poison Center don't have to look out the window or at a calendar to know what time of year it is.

All they have to do is keep track of the kinds of calls coming in -- when people stop calling in about carbon monoxide and cough and cold medicine, and start asking questions about gasoline, ant killer, fertilizers, cleaning chemicals and critters that bite and sting, they know that spring has arrived.

To help Nebraskans avoid the need to call in at all, the center offers a few springtime tips:

* Never mix cleaning chemicals, which can create toxic gases that can cause coughing, burning of the eyes, nose and throat and difficulty breathing. To be safe, always work in a well-ventilated area.

* After using fertilizers, stay off the grass until they have been watered in. You should be even more careful about pesticides, which call for protective clothing and calm days when they are applied. And, always store lawn chemicals in their original containers, complete with labels that list ingredients, directions for use and first-aid steps in case of an accidental poisoning.

* Use caution when choosing plants during spring planting season. Some plants, trees and flowers can be harmful, and should especially be kept away from children. Know the names of the plants in your house and yard in case someone eats something they shouldn't.

* Call the Poison Center if you are stung by a bee or bitten by a spider or snake. The nurses answering your call will provide the information you need.

* When buying ant killer, read the label and avoid products that contain arsenic. Be sure to keep it out of the reach of children.

In case of questions, or to request a brochure with information on plants, contact the Nebraska Regional Poison Center by calling (800)?222-1222.

But don't let potential problems with bugs and chemicals keep you out of the garden.

Many of us truly enjoy coaxing flowers, fruits and vegetables out of the earth, and can't wait to dig in the dirt each spring.

There may be more to it than just stirring up happy memories, according to scientists in England.

According to a recent edition of the journal Neuroscience, researchers found that a "friendly" bacteria commonly found in the soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, stimulates certain brain cells to produce serotonin. That's the chemical that's needed to prevent a number disorders such as aggression, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, irritable bowel and fibromyalgia.

In other words, working in the garden may have the same effect as taking certain antidepressants.

That should be no surprise to anyone for whom dirt under the nails and callouses from hoeing weeds are the same thing as heaven.