The following should be kept in mind to help insure that a quasi-judicial public hearing runs smoothly, is error-free, and is fair: 1  Be prepared! 2  Prior to the hearing, make sure that timely and proper notice was provided. 3  Have clear ground rules for conducting the hearing, and make printed copies available to the public.
The needles of many pine trees are toxic and may be dangerous, particularly to cattle and other livestock. Some plants tagged as pines, including Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) and Yew pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), are not true pines, but both contain toxic compounds and should be planted with care. The needles of at least 20 familiar pine trees are toxic and present serious risk to livestock. Although the needles, as well as the bark and branch tips, are toxic to horses, goats and sheep, cattle are especially susceptible to potentially lethal reactions, including premature births and miscarriages.
Pretty yew berries are extremely poisonous. Yews (Taxus spp.) are long-lived evergreens that can reach 40 feet tall, depending on species, when grown as trees. Many gardeners use the short-needled plants as specimen shrubs or hedges.. Trim back any stubs after new growth slows in midsummer. The new growth develops from buds under the bark that are not evident when you cut the yew back, so there may be short stubs of woody stem above the point where the new growth emerges. Cut back woody stems to within a 1/2 inch above base of the new growth.