Got gloves?

Got gloves?

Gardening. It’s that time of year again. One of my favorites. I mentioned last year a few gardening tips. This year I have a new one – poison ivy. I learned that although my fantastic husband is building me a bean trellis and preparing a bed for the bean plants is a bright idea, what isn’t is not recognizing the vine of the poison ivy plant. Let me enlighten you. Exhibit 1:
poisonivy

The sneaky little creep was taking my fence apart. It was just a vine, no leaves. I figured it was time to bare-handedly (yes, you can guess where this is going) take that beast down. I pulled. I yanked. I growled as I tried my best to pull it by its gnarly roots. Victory, or so I thought, I got the majority crammed into the big trashcan, wiped my dirty hands on my pants, and moved on to digging up lilies to prepare the bed for beans.

Then comes Monday. Working diligently as three kids circle. I find myself irritated by a welt on my arm. I scratch. Looks like aΒ mosquito bite. Happens. I subconsciously scratch more. I finally take a shower from the busy work day and the day before’s gardening to where I find a l blotch on my hand, arm, forearm, leg, belly,…you get the picture. Before the week is over I keep thinking of the leprosy dudes from the bible. Lord, was this anything akin to that?

Exhibit 2:
poisonivy2

After a bit of research…
rycodyscare

Here’s what I learned:
1. I need a goat – frankly I don’t want another creature to care for. But considering they are the only one on God’s green earth that actually prefer to eat my newest nemesis, I am contemplating the idea. Checking the city ordinances. Thinking of names.
2. Poison ivy is some strong stuff. One article stated that just enough of the oil that would cover the head of a pin could infect 500 people.
3. You cannot spread it to other creatures once you have it. At least not via your rash, oozing gorgeousness, etc. I asked our pediatrician since we were there for check-ups. I was concerned that Cody would get it being plastered to my torso five times a day.
4. You can’t kill it (aside from point #1). It is highly recommended not to burn it (unless you want in it your eyes or lungs. Can we say “dead”.)
5. The oil is also in the vines and no leaves are required to infect or caution the unsuspecting idiot gardener who insists on not wearing gloves because she “wants to feel the earth between her fingers”. Similar to Virginia Creeper, which can be leaves of 3, 5, or 7. Let’s compare (VA Creeper first two. Poison Ivy third):

vacreep
vacreeperpoisonivy2

If you are allergic to poison ivy, chances are you will likely get a similar rash from Virginia Creeper. Some say not as strong though.

6. It is very hard to kill off the oil. So think about that when you don’t change your sheets for days after you encounter it. Not washing your hair. And thus giving the illusion it “spreads” from one sore to a new spot on the body. The sheets are currently in the wash on HOT water. One article said to throw them away. I will itch before I go buy a new set of sheets. See Money post here. Plus, I’d say it is a slippery slope if you get in the habit of fearfully throwing things away for fear it has the oil on it. I would have thrown the dog, carpet, and children away at this point.
7. It is the ideal time to schedule your weekend getaway with friends as the infestation on your body is in full force. Ya know, the spa package you got from your husband for Christmas but couldn’t get away any sooner. Ya know, the one that requires you to be touched for a message and pedicure? Yeah, that one. We shall see tomorrow how that goes.
8. Aveeno lotion with oatmeal helps
9. This stuff helps even more. My stubborn tail didn’t buy it (refer to Money post) until two days ago. Wait, no, I still had to get my loving husband to buy it because I didn’t want to spend the money. But over all you pretty much have to wait for the rash to go away.
10. Scratching does not spread it. Go on scratch it. Feel better? Yeah, me neither. However, it won’t heal as fast. Learning a lot of lessons this week.

So next time you go out gardening – and I truly hope you still will – keep these tips in mind. As they say “leaves of three leave them be!”…for Virginia Creeper…maybe you will be in the group that isn’t allergic to it. Happy spring!

bugman

 

14 Replies to “Got gloves?”

  1. Being that we are getting a home backed up to the woods, we
    are very thankful for this blog of info on poison ivy leaves and how it works and if it spreads, etc. I am keeping this blog just
    in case, so I can spot these leaves if I see them. Thank you for
    ALL this info; much appreciated!!

  2. Oh you poor thing! Enjoy your spa day to the fullest! But I do like the idea of a goat…. Go ahead, prepare the way, and be the first to do it! We’ll all come running to meet “Buttermilk” or whatever you may name him/her πŸ™‚

  3. The “bit of research” pictures are the BEST! Loved Cody’s expression. You have such a way of capturing your little ones that always leaves me waiting for the next blog. Well done…except for the poison ivy part. That will need to change. ;o)

    1. I love how he is gripping Ryder’s arm. Can’t remember what they were watching – shocking, whatever it was πŸ™‚

  4. Very good post…sorry for your pain, but you did an excellent job with the humor! And yes ~ LOVED little Cody’s expression!!! LOL!!
    Living in our little NC “woodlands” I learned about the poison ivy years ago. Thankfully from a “home school field trip” at a Nature Park instead of the hard way that you have learned. PI is extremely prolific in this area and my Douglas is ‘very allergic’ as well.
    There are 2 points that I would like to add to your research: 1.) in the Fall the leaves are “very colorful”…hence beware of children collecting pretty fall leaves 2.) the vines even in the winter with “no leaves” have a “unique characteristic” – they are “Hairy”, which helps to spot them easily. I am sure there is some scientific term for that, but do not know what it is. The ‘hairs’ are part of the root system.

    1. Ah yes! Thank you! I meant to mention those two points but was Vulcan mind melded one too many times. Glad to have you confirm what I had read with experience! Hadn’t thought about the kids collecting “pretty leaves”…yikes. Any tips caring for the rash?

  5. No, sorry…no advice on the rash. The last really bad time that Doug got into the stuff was waaaaaaay back before Sarah was born. It was in the fall after the leaves had fallen and he climbed up a tree into a deer stand. Apparently the tree had huge “hairy vines” all over it, as Douglas got the rash/blisters ALL over himself πŸ™

    So after I went on that Nature field trip and they showed me the foliage, I came home and did a major search all over our yard. Round Up was my mode of attacking it. There was one huge hairy vine on one of our trees. The way I handled it: took the ax and hacked out about a 6 inch section of the big woody, hairy vine near the base of the tree. Then I took “pure undiluted” Round up and poured onto the part that went into the ground. I figured it would take care of the underground root system and since I so thoroughly hacked it from that root system, the part climbing the tree had no chance. Then I thoroughly educated Doug and Sarah how to identify it and yearly sweep the yard with the Round up spray. It will try to pop up here and there. But not too bad, once you take care of it. Hope you get better soon.
    Oh yes, and for a good laugh…Doug and I had a “get away” weekend scheduled not long after he broke out…not much fun that weekend πŸ™‚

  6. Ok this made me laugh out loud! Sorry you got poison ivy!!! Hope your spa day was still enjoyable πŸ™‚

  7. ありますこの上のカットオフ日付記事が、私が知っているドンいくつかの 私はそれらのすべてが表示された場合、心臓に中央に配置します。さらにそれに| 現れる見る私がかかります維持維持維持意見私がするまで、いくつかの妥当性は、それにもかかわらずがあります。 素晴らしい ポスト、おかげで、私たちは余分たい!ここでの時間私はだ効果的