Gardening
a labor of possibilities restoring balance,
relaxation, harmony and contentment..
that is Nature's intention.
the Good
Creating color and texture and pathways to enhance
the natural beauty of my woodlands comes with
a NASTY price.
the natural beauty of my woodlands comes with
a NASTY price.
the Bad Poison Ivy
Don't step on or touch this plant!
My woodlands are carpeted with poison ivy, oak,
and poison sumac. Contact with the oil called urushoil
causes itching and painful rashes.
causes itching and painful rashes.
Clearing away the invasive ground cover
to the point of obsession to make way for pathways and
gardens filled in with various favorite plants that can
survive shade under tall Oaks and Savannah Pines.
WARNING..next image not pretty!
the Nasty Ugly
Red streaks where the plant brushed against the skin,
small bumps and finally the worst case as seen above
blisters filled with fluid!
It can take up to a week-15 days after touching the plant for
the rash to appear as it did in my case on my
Legs, feet, arms, fingers, face..
EEK!!
( I was dressed in short sleeves and shorts with much skin exposed!)
I'm sure my violent reaction was due to my immune system
function after having spleen removed during my last cancer journey
Initial treatment consists of washing affected area with
soap and water immediately after contact..
I did NOT..
I'm a city girl what do I know about the carpeted woodlands nasties !!
I was treated at the emergency dept. of hospital.
Infusion of antibiotic for 3 days because infection had set in due
to scratching. An antihistamine and a corticosteroid pill and
ointment was course of treatment for 16 days.
People who are very sensitive...that would be me;
the rash can take up to 6 wks. to heal!!
I am still itchy in areas that came in contact with poison ivy
and it's 2 months later!!
and it's 2 months later!!
This discomfort and hard lesson learned is well worth it
seeing the garden transform into
seeing the garden transform into
a comforting sanctuary where I can go to think and dream ..
creating a garden for my soul!
~
"The path to happiness is often paved with the effort spent on caring for
the world surrounding us.
As a garden is nourished, so are our dreams."
Nancilee Wydra
28 comments:
Take care my dear friend,also I'm allergic to many selvatic flowers,when I was 10 years old I was around yellow flowers and has gone home like a balloon red and white,I have used a natural soap for ten days before to be ok.Bad carpet in your garden!
So sorry you're going through this. I have quite a bit of that around here, too, so I'm always on the lookout. I hope you continue to feel better, and don't get into any more of this ugly stuff! It can be very serious - glad you got to the doctor.
It's a nasty plant, I know it. During the Middle Ages beggars used to brush their limb with it to fake ulcers and attract people's pity outside the churches' gate...
I always destroy it whenever I see it in my garden! But there are so many lovely plants and flowers that make it up for that nasty one...
Ouch. That doesn't look so good.
Oh my goodness! So sorry you had to endure that! No matter how hot it gets, I never garden without long pants and sleeves. We have poison ivy every where and learned our lesson the hard way!
Ouch....
Hope it heals well.
Your garden looks wonderful, I am enjoying the first spring in my little courtyard, the cats enjoying their new playground, it is here in my little bit of greenery that I am in awe of the miracle of nature ♥
oh my goodness. so sorry to hear about the nasties effect on your skin...hope you are on the road to recovery...thank you for the lovely words of encouragement and ideas for fall...takae care..thinking of you
What a horrible experience that has been for you, hopefully your garden is now free of this dreadful weed. Take care.
Dear Anna, this looks horrible! I have never heard of thes plants before and I am very happy not to know them personally! I hope you will be better very soon and can get rid of them all in your garden without more hurt!
But your garden looks wonderful, really peaceful. And I have seen you are also square foot gardening!?
Did you see my kitchen-garden as it was in the german TV (http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/1410178/L%C3%A4ndliche+Idylle+in+die+Stadt+geholt)?
Have a nice week - soon I will be showing pictures from France again.
Hugs, Monika
Was it poison oak my friend?
I had it this summer and suffered so mine looked the same
Love and hugs
Oh that is a nasty plant. I too am sensitive to it so try to make sure I do not get close to it. Hope it heals fast. V
Ms, Anna, that's really an EEEK! The rashes look like burn. I have heard aloe vera (the real one) reals fast.
In all of our hikes, we see signs to be careful with poison oak. I make sure I don't go near them.
You better take care.
Oh dear, Anna, that rash looks awful! I used to think I was immune to poison ivy, but after a careless encounter with it three years ago, I've discovered I'm not. But my outbreak was confined to a much smaller area than yours. I do hope this clears up for you soon. Your new garden looks wonderful...but I'd let someone else do the clearing of weeds for you, if you can!
Thanks so much for visiting us.
I am sorry to hear what you've gone through with the poison ivy! That's awful. I never knew one could suffer for so long with it. Your garden, however is lovely!
Babie and Paisley are so pretty!
oh, my, I'm so sorry! That looks so mean. Anna, take good care of yourself. eek. is right. xo
Wow, I am sorry you had such a bad case of poison ivy. My son once had a bad reaction, his face swelled up till he was unrecognizable. It can be very scary. I hope you are Ok now and feeling better. Your yard and gardens are beautiful. Lovely photos and mosaic. I hope you have a great week!
Ouch!!! Hope it is clearing up and you feel better. I had the same problem when we purchased this place. Every spring I head into the woodland garden in long pants, long sleeves, gloves and rubber boots on the hunt for any new shots starting to grow. Enjoy the week in your new garden.
Hello, I am back after taking a few weeks off from blogging. I'm glad to be back though and have missed you!!!!
Oh Anna, so sorry about your horrible case of poison ivy/oak/sumac.... We have plenty of that stuff around here... I have gotten it in past --but never that bad... Our biggest problem is getting chigger bites when we hike in the woods... Not fun!!!!
BUT---your good is good --and I know you are glad to get that area cleaned out... God Bless!!!!
Hope you are feeling good--except for the rash.
Hugs,
Betsy
Oh dear. I hope you and your arm are better now! Such an awful plant.
Your garden looks fantastic and lovely mosaics. Have a really nice week.
Oh my! It looks so painful. I hope you heal quickly, Naturegirl. I am such a city person I would forget to check for poisonous plants if I were out in the wild. I thank you for your reminder
Hope you feel better soon. What a terrible thing to happen to you!!
Sending healing hugs (well, not too tight). LOL!
Oh you poor girl. I've never had the "pleasure". I"m guessing this will never happen to you again.
Oh, Nature Girl! I am so sorry to read this! I wish I could have warned you! I did not know you were such a city girl since your blog is called Nature Girl and you always seem to be out in nature! I grew up with the stuff but it never seemed to bother me until recently when I was moving some of the cut-up downed tree limbs from the wooded area in my yard to the new wood pile I am forming. For the first time ever I got poison ivy on my exposed ankles but it was no where near as bad as your case! Have you tried colloidal oatmeal on it? It's suppose to sooth the itch. I do hope you are feeling better soon!
Just another word of caution: I went back and re-read your post and want to warn you that poison ivy can grow as a ground cover or a vine! It has leaves in clusters of 3, so whenever you see that, stay away! However, one benefit of poison ivy is that it produces berries that the birds love and it changes lovely colors in the fall!
I loved seeing the photos of your beautiful garden - but not the effect on your skin. Take care! and enjoy the rest of your week.
Thankyou also for stopping by my blog to say hi. I am glad you enjoyed the orchid images. I feel so lucky to see the wild orchids.
An additional comment make sure to wash off your shoes (and shoe laces) the oils can stay on them. Never throw the plant into a burning pile. The oils can be released in the smoke.
I was wondering Naturegirl, if Ms. Paisley goes into the woods and rubs against the poison ivy, can she transfer it to you when you pet her fur? Just curious. Eeeeek! Bad ivy! xoxoxo
Judi: Thank you for the heads up on burning the poison ivy! I had suggested that to Natureboy!!
Our cats are strickly INDOOR cats. Since we moved to woodlands I would NEVER all ow them out to roam. I could never find them if them roamed off!!
I have screens on my doors and they are happy to sit looking out.
Indoors cats are safer and live longer. hugs to you Judi!
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