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When I go out to the mailbox each day, I scan the shrub borders for 'weed-lings' and pull them out before they take firm hold. The other day, there was a new one I hadn't seen before. Took particular note of the pretty shape of the leaf, pulled it out, and thought no more about it.

Then I was googling around for some gardening info a few days later and came across the photo below. I thought, "Aha! There's my mystery weed." The ID caption below it was a real stunner. My suspicion was confirmed that I don't seem to have a sensitivity to this plant at all. How odd is that?

Is it poison ivy?

Yes it is poison ivy......and Nettiejay, you are so fortunate. I've be covered in bumps and itching my fool self to death by now.


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I always remember - "Leaves of three, leave it be." This blogger has helpful information about poison ivy. http://seabrookeleckie.com/200.../26/leaves-of-three/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: still tryin,

I thought I remember hearing that it is more prone to cause the itchy rash at certain times of the year?

I'm still slapping on tons of cortisone salve and just finished a week of pills for my last encounter with either poison ivy/oak recently. I wasn't susceptible to it either and then 4 years ago I got horrible blisters on my hands after I weeded. My most recent episode was a quick reminder to be careful. I had on gloves and long pants when I was weeding but since it was so hot I didn't have on long sleeves--I have three large red patches on my right forearm. It seems that I have grown more sensitive since the rash and blisters were more severe this time. Be careful!

The CDC has links on their site. One of the links is to Poison Ivy, Oak, & Sumac Information Center. On this site are pictures of varieties of these plants and look a likes. http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/welcome.html


Here is a link to the CDC's site - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/plants/

quote:

Originally posted by 16paws:
I wasn't susceptible to it either and then 4 years ago I got horrible blisters on my hands after I weeded.... Be careful!

Duly noted, and I will. I've heard that allergies can develop at any stage of life. Being un-allergic isn't necessarily true forever. But at least for now, it's all good.

We have lots of it around here too....I never had a reaction to it either. I know there's always a first time, so I'm not going out of my way to get it.

That second pic with poison ivy, oak & sumac...we have a slightly different variety of posion oak down here or at least the leaves are somewhat different. They are more like a white oak tree leaf...but still come in 3s.

I was HIGHLY allergic when I was young and still stay away from it but I haven't had any for many years now. I used to never have alergies but one year putting up hay...I was a mess. I've had them every since and to lots of different things once I moved south.

oh nettie.. please do be careful. we have poison oak out here but in the woods and not in my yard. i had the rash when i was a kid and never want it again. cousin had it really bad.. eyes swollen shut and even in her mouth. so y'all be careful about gardening and touching your face if you know that stuff is around.

Let me add another word of caution about the poison vines to bana's post.
When we lived in Ill. one of our neighbor's cleaned out a fence row. She was burning all the stuff she pulled out & keeping an eye on the fire so it didn't spread. She stood in the smoke & some poison ivy was in there burning.
She got it EVERYWHERE! Including in her lungs. She spent almost 2 weeks in the hospital and almost didn't make it!
So PLEASE gals, you all be careful with these things!!!!!!!!!!!!
And don't burn any...just bag it & put it in the trash!