LEAVES THREE, Leave Me Be

As the song goes "Poi-son-iiiii-veee, Lord, will make you itch." All over Nantucket, hidden among friendly and beautiful plants, this denizen of the garden lurks to spoil the day of some innocent bystander. Today we were walking down Beach Street toward town, past the high end White Elephant free standing houses. In the hedge along the sidewalk, sticking out just enough to rub against a passerby, LEAVES THREE...slightly red and shiny from the oil that gives most people, an itchy rash.

Now I don't think the people at the White Elephant, or for that matter at Something Natural, want their patrons itching and scratching and wondering where "that" came from. They just look past the noxious vine which hides among the friendly plants. So, I guess you have to keep your eyes open yourself.

If you do get some of the sap on you, wash as much of the oil off with a strong soap, I guess nowadays, dish washing detergent like DAWN that "cuts grease" might be a good choice. Then wash your hands again.And your clothes, and maybe your dog. Once the oil gets on these things it continues to be poisonous for years to you until it is washed away. Put some over the counter Cortisone cream on, because it is a reaction to CONTACT with the URUSHIOL in the sap. For those of us who are into that sort of thing, the botanical name of Poison Ivy is Toxicodendron Radicans. Her cousins, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac, contain the same chemical. There are a few people who are not bothered by these plants. You are probably not one of them,. Be careful out there. Leaves three...leave me be. (Not all three leaved plants are poison ivy but err on the safe side.) Significant cases require stronger medications and a trip to the doctor. Most often, oral corticosteroids are prescribed.