The Poison Ivy that Wasn't

[ellyssian]

Turns out there's a good reason I'm not seeing anything develop from all that poison ivy removal - except, of course, more of the stuff where I missed it. I was reading through this old "Northern Shrubs" book my mom gave me, and I found a picture of the stuff: compound leaves of three... shiny appearance... running all over the place... and the stuff is labeled "Running Swamp Blackberry." So much for that.

I found pictures of the poison ivy and poison oak/ivy, and they do look quite a bit different, as well as having more of a tendency to go upwards from their lowly position, which the stuff I removed didn't.

Oh well, a few less sour (it didn't say 'inedible', but it came close) berries for the birds; at least it's something else I can cross off my 'To-Do' list, at least until the real thing inevitably (by which I mean, hopefully, "never") shows up.

Continuing on the plus side of pests, my co-worker received his order of Oak Stump Yellow Jacket and Wasp traps, which included two for me - build a nest above my window(s) and behind my shutter(s), will you? Hah!

Really good timing, as I ran out of the minty fresh poison free stuff just as I took aim on one of the new nests this weekend.

Comments

[opakele.livejournal.com]

So, it actually produces a berry? Is it a particularly good berry? We have a Douglas berry here that grows along the ground. A chore to pick, but the berries make the best jam.

Umm, jam.

With kids, you will want to manage the yellow jackets. We draw the line when they nest in the walls of the house. Otherwise, they are pretty cool. (We had one nest in the big out door light by the deck. That was too close. We eat outside in the summer and those sucker will fligh away with your steak, if you let them.)

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I haven't actually seen any of the berries, but I'm inclined to stay away, just in case it's a case of mistaken mistaken identity! =)

The wasps are the bigger issue at this time, but I'm sure the yellow jackets will come out sooner or later...