January 30, 2025

When I was little our backyard backed up to oodles of woods. I played in those woods many hours during the week. And of course there was lots of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) too, though I managed to escape getting the horrible rash until I was an adult. I knew the plant well, as a little kid, but somehow it never dawned on me that it bloomed or got berries.

But of course the plant does bloom and those blooms turn to berries. Berries that are absolutely loved by birds. Now, my cabin is surrounded by woods and Poison Ivy is welcome in those woods because of those berry loving birds. I just walk through the woods with caution. As an adult I am extremely allergic to the urushiol oil that is in all parts of the plant.

The Poison Ivy is for the birds. I love that they enjoy those berries, and I’m smart. I know how to avoid the plant.

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