Monday, August 11, 2008

"100" -- Poison Ivy

I'm not putting poison ivy on my list of species I can identify, because I'm miserable at identifying it. I've tried and tried to learn, but can't.

Tonight I was on a quest (a ten-year-old quest!) to identify a particular tree which I'd long ago narrowed down to the poplar genus, that is, either a quaking aspen or a cottonwood of some sort. While hunting, I stumbled upon a website that does the best job of showing poison ivy, explaining in words and pictures what it is, and how it varies throughout the year. I'm going to need to remember this site, and I thought somebody else might benefit too. Most guidance on recognizing poison ivy falls woefully short, telling us only "leaves of three, let it be." Well, then I'd avoid clovers and strawberries and all sorts of other good things. So I need lots more help in the ID dept, and this website is a step in the right direction!

2 comments:

  1. Poison ivy is the worst.

    It's one of the things that keeps me ON the beaten path.

    I love these pictures of wildflowers on your site. Three years ago I discovered birdfoot trefoil and let it overtake a little area in front of our house. So pretty.

    Jane S. (Alex's Grandma - South Bend)

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  2. My skin recognizes poison ivy faster than my eyes. Or maybe I should say that poison ivy finds me before I notice it. Man I hate that stuff.

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