Do you remember me telling you how every day here in New England is just one big adventure after another? And how each and every day {or so it seems} we are learning something new?
Well. Apparently we have POISON IVY on our property. Good times people, good times. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it here on the blog before, but I am allergic to all sorts of weird things. Bees {not so weird} cherry cough drops {red dye #5}, all kinds of lotions, potions, bath products, latex, various chemicals used in hospitals {I broke out in hives once when I had to stay with my mother in the hospital while she had her knee surgery and all I did was touch a chair}.
So imagine my delight when the HH and I were out front the other day just BEGINNING to clear the area in front of our property when a neighbor walked by and pointed out that the green brush {we were getting ready to pull} was POISON IVY!!! Oh my word. How is it possible I didn’t know what poison ivy looked like? Seriously. How is that possible I didn’t know?
Oh, wait. Maybe it’s because I’ve lived in freakin’ suburbia my entire life. Yeah. That would be it. Note to self: Bring neighbor lady a jar of jam and thank her for saving me a trip to the ER and a week {?} of itching like mad.
In other news… The HH’s tractor arrived and he’s been having fun testing it out. So far he’s graded the driveway and hauled a bunch of logs with it. He keeps asking me if I want to learn how to drive the thing. And I keep telling him no. The way I see it, if I know how to use the tractor, there will just be MORE stuff for me to do around here. So no, I’m good for now, but thanks. 😉
Nobody bought Swiss chard at my vegetable stand the other day.
But I did sell 3 bunches of beets and a box of turnips. So far I’m up to $18 at my little end of the driveway stand for the year. Not bad considering I’ve only put a table out twice and we don’t live on a busy road.
Maybe in another 6 weeks I’ll be able to add fresh eggs to my little pop up veggie stand.
This bird! Who has yet to be named is the happiest little chicken on the planet and she loves to run up to Lucy and give chase. It’s the cutest thing ever. She needs a name…. Any suggestions?
Harriet’s apples have all fallen off, and it looks like another one of the fruit trees is without any fruit, BUT THERE ARE STILL TWO TREES left with apples on them so there is hope for some sort of apple harvest this year. I’d love to add some plum trees, maybe even a peach or apricot next year. We’ll see.
The pole beans and cucumbers are looking mighty rad.
And the tomatoes are doing really well, all 50 plants. 😉 I think I’m most exciting to have our Oxheart tomatoes ripen though, I haven’t had one in years.
Take a look at those gorgeous pepper plants!!! The only time I was able to grow nice big pepper plants in the PNW was when we had a greenhouse as it usually didn’t get hot enough to grow them in the regular garden. {Clearly that is not an issue here}. It’s so fun to discover what grows well here and what doesn’t.
So far, the only thing that has been a bit tricky is lettuce. But I think it was mostly my fault for not getting out there to harvest it before it went to seed {which seemed to happen like overnight!}.
The mammoth sunflowers… they’re nearing 5 feet tall. I wonder how high they’ll get? Also, my husband doesn’t like my new pants. He says they look like “Mom jeans.” And yes, I am wearing a puffy coat even though it’s 85 degrees out. You know, so I don’t get eaten alive by the skeeters.
We drive by people who are working outside in their yard in flip flops, shorts and a tank top and I honestly don’t know how they are doing it. Maybe your skin just toughens up after a few years here… I don’t know.
And last but not least, the BLUEBERRIES are almost ripe. I’ve been checking them every morning so we can stay ahead of the birds… We have 7 of our giant {5-7ft!} blueberry bushes under bird netting, but I’m afraid the birds will still find a way in and leave us with nothing so I’m on high alert! It’s intense I tell you, intense. 😉 Life, it’s just one big thrill a minute around here. But I’m loving it.
What’s new in YOUR garden these days? Are you harvesting anything yet? We want to know!
~Mavis
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Wendy Clark says
I have been picking blueberries here in AL for two weeks. Tonight will probably be the last picking though. I’ll have to check when I go out tonight. Its too hot to pick during the day. I wait until it is dusk and go out.
And I think your chicken looks like a Hilda. Not sure why, but that is the name that came to me. I name my chickens also 🙂
Deb says
She looks so sweet. I thought Mabel but Hilda would be good too. 🙂
Toni says
Maybe your HH could scrape the top layer of soil and all the poison ivy up with his handy dandy new tractor and dump it in the woods or in a ditch far far away… If the dog runs through it and gets the oil on her fur you could still get it from touching the dog.
Don’t burn it either…
I’m sorry you have poison ivy.
Mrs. C. says
Toni is so right about the dog! My HH is allergic, and a couple of years ago got a bad case of it. We figured out that the dog had walked through a patch, he petted the dog, and you know the rest of the story.
A good rule of thumb, although not infallible, is “leaves of three, let them be.” Poison ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Virginia Creeper all have oils that can cause skin irritation in susceptible people. NEVER burn these plants. They are widespread up and down the east coast, and you find them everywhere, even in cities and suburbia. About 20% of people are not allergic and do not react to these plants….that would be me!
debbie in alaska says
We have cow parsnip here in Alaska and the oil from that plant causes burns so bad they leave scars. Plants can be such d*cks when they want to be.
Leslie says
Good call about not burning it. I remember one awful story about a kid that was exposed to the smoke. It doesn’t grow in the PNW at all, so no surprise you didn’t recognize it.
And for whatever it’s worth, mosquitos are more attracted to some people than others, and everyone reacts differently to the bites. Same with horse flies and deer flies. One guy told me he started taking a B supplement, and then received fewer bites. I wonder if that’s a thing.
Daria says
I know Roundup is evil, but for poison ivy, it might be necessary. Just be careful not to get it on anything else…
Seconding the advice of don’t burn it. My dad once got poison ivy cat prints down his back because the cat walked through a patch, then down his back while he was sleeping. Good times.
Maureen says
We use Roundup as well. Just make sure to get the orange container specifically for Poison Ivy. The regular Roundup (blue container) does not work as well.
Shari Cooper says
You can buy round up especially for poison ivy, though it will still kill the lesser stuff too. Our house had vines as big around as my arm. That was only thing that finally got rid of it.
Carolyn Krueger says
That’s quite a patch of poison ivy! I’ve been itching all week with spots that keep popping up and I have no idea where it came from. We pulled out bushes last week Monday and apparently there must have been a little bit in there. Unless the cat brought it in….. Either way I’ve found my favorite OTC product for Poison Ivy is Zanfel – and trust me we’ve tried them all! It’s pricey but saves a co-pay to the doctor and round of steroids.
It’s so fun to see you learning about a different growing zone and how different plants grow there!
Em says
I agree, Zanfel really helps!
Jennifer says
Fishing shirts are a gopd compromise… long-sleeved, lightweight, and a vent on the back (with mesh, so skeeters won’t get you).
Garden looks great.
Goats LOVE poison ivy…maybe you can borrow one? Be careful of the roots, the oils are more concentrated there. If you have a hairy vine on a tree…also poison ivy.
Kim says
Poison ivy roots–fair warning! I didn’t know we had it either. But when I tilled my garden spot, the roots that were entwined in the tiller were poison ivy. I had it all over and in between my fingers and several places I had scratched during the day. Some would tell me to wear gloves, but then I would have re-exposed myself every time I used them, until tossed in the wash.
Mim says
Being allergic to poison ivy is not odd; it is the norm. And you don’t just itch. You ooze. For days. Leaves of three, let them be. And beware in the fall and spring when they’re sort of reddish. They’re still poison ivy. Absolutely do not burn; the smoke from the plants is full of the toxic oil that will spread the rash. Me, I use poison ivy killer, but I know you’re not fond of chemicals. (Neither am I, but when it comes to poison ivy and ticks, better living through chemistry is my motto. And re the latter, the deet spray is why I can garden and work outside most of the day in shorts and sleeveless shirts without being bothered by mosquitoes, black flies, noseeums, etc. May explain your neighbors’ tolerance, too.)
Also be on the alert for wild parsnip. Big plant with yellow flowers. Don’t know if it’s taken over in Maine, but it’s epidemic in Vermont. I won’t get the science right here, so google it, but its oil activates photosynthesis and gives you what amounts to a burn. Very very nasty.
Sorry you’re discovering the bad things. Trust me, the good of New England DOES outweigh the bad.
P.S. make sure to stock up on de-skunking formula for the inevitable day when the indomitable Lucy tries to make friends with one. Believe it or not, I have found that swimmers’ shampoo — the kind you use to counteract chlorine from pools — works better than any other remedy, including tomato juice and SkunkKleen. As you say, good times!
Mrs. C. says
Summer’s Eve feminine hygiene wash also works on the skunk oil.
Mrs. C. says
Another tip: if you start itching in one area, you figure it’s poison ivy, and it starts popping up in other areas of your body, get thee to a doctor for prednisone. Seriously. If it goes systemic, topical creams will no longer stop it. My husband and brother have both had experiences where it started to erupt in and around their mouths.
As for the garden, I also have about 50 tomato plants. I am experimenting with zucchini this year, and will plant some seeds today in the hopes that I will avoid vine borers and squash bugs and get more than 2 zucchinis. I also tried ground cherries for the first time this year, and they’re fantastic. Our blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries had been struggling, until we side dressed them this year with composted horse manure. Gadzooks, what a bonanza of berries!
Tami says
How about Chase as a name for your chicken?
Rita says
Ethel! Then you’ll have Lucy and Ethel!
Cindy says
Ha! I love that!
Jennifer Meyer says
Omg I love this idea too!! I’m sure your Lucy and Ethel will get into just as much trouble hehe!
Michelle says
Another vote for Ethel. Love it!
Athena says
I was going to say the same thing! Ethel is perfect!
Samantha VanArnhem says
Another vote for Ethal!!
Kim says
I think you should name your chicken McBeth.
Also, my dad told me not to eat bananas before going out in the yard to work as something about them attracts mosquitos. I also read that somewhere. So, if you’re eating them with breakfast….that might be the cause.
Carrie says
I’ve heard eating a banana keeps them away. I eat one everyday and don’t have issues with bug bites. Maybe 3 bites total each summer.
Alicia says
Watch out for poison oak and sumac as well! I’m highly allergic, it was all over my face once. Awful stuff.
Debby says
I have a tractor and I prefer not to be in control. My son and husband have instructed me how to use it several times. I am just insecure when using it. Too many gadgets. Thought I was riding the break last time and I just didn’t throttle up. Oops, forgot. You can push the gas all you want, but it will only go as fast as the throttle is set for. I prefer that they do the tractor work. My son is always saying ‘You can do that with the tractor faster”. I just say go for it.. Some times he does.
Tammy says
Calamine lotion for surface outbreaks of poison ivy or oak along with benedryl.
Avon skin so soft to help repel mosquitos.
Love the chickens. I like Hilda hen for a name.
Linda Bick says
Sweetie
Pam says
The puffy coat and jeans makes perfect sense to me. I moved to Central Florida a couple years ago and I still rarely step outside in shorts, despite the high temps and ultra high humidity. I also often wear a lightweight sweater to shield myself from the army of blood suckers I encounter every time I go outside. The choices are: bathe in DEET daily or wear jeans/long sleeves. I’m sure my neighbors think I’m nuts!
Love the cute chicken. How about Gayle or Gladys?
Kerry C says
We have started getting cucumbers. I have 8 plants and am getting about 25 a day. And now I’m pickling like crazy. We will have enough pickles and relish to share with all our family & friends.
Tanya says
Avon makes a Skin So Soft product specifically for repelling mosquitoes. Works great for me, my husband and my son… not at all for my daughter. Body chemistry plays a huge part in how much mosquitoes are attracted to you.
As for the poison ivy beware of poison oak too! And never burn your weeds unless you are absolutely positive there is neither in the burn pile. I was covered once because a neighbor decided to burn poison oak he had pulled out and I was outside playing. Required multiple steroid shots and almost 2 weeks of agony.
Carrie says
I like the idea of digging up the PI with the tractor and depositing it deep in the woods (if your property is large enough). Or you could cover your skin completely and hand pull, bag and take to the dump. If you are exposed wash your skin immediately. Grandma’s Lye soap works great and so does the Burt’s Bees PI soap for relief if you get a rash.
Humans are the only animals that have an allergy to PI. Some people have it worse than others and the more you are exposed the worse your allergy will become. It’s important to be careful even if you think you are immune to it. I wasn’t bothered by it when a child but now I will break out. I worked at a summer camp 12 years ago where a child’s face and inside her mouth was covered in a PI rash. She had a steroid shot and chose to stay at camp!
Anne P says
How about Ethel for the chicken since she is friends with Lucy!
Stacy says
PEARL for the chicken….for some reason, she looks like a Pearl (But, what do I know, I have never named a chicken before.
As far as the poison ivy, my Mom said she could catch it through the air …as when neighbors would burn it. I on the other hand, could lie down and take a nap in it. I have always heard that washing with FELS-NAPTHA (old time laundry bar soap) as soon as you can after touching any is suppose to break down the oil from the leaves/plant.
Lisa says
My doctor suggested years ago that when exposed to poison ivy, apply Dawn liquid soap over the affected area, allow it to sit for five minutes then wash it off. The Dawn removes the plant oils that cause the rash. It’s worked every time…so far. Long sleeves and pants and gloves are the norm around here when working outdoors, especially if weed-whacking. It prevents a lot of grief later on.
Ethel is the perfect chicken name 🙂
Lace Faerie says
I’ve always in the PNW so I’ve never encountered any of those poisonous plants. I think the blue Dawn cure makes sense, it is great for getting rid of oily stains on clothes, too.
I have always had great luck with Avon’s SSS tho’ no one needs use it when my brother-in-law is around. They flock to him no matter what he uses. We love to have Skeeter-Bait along when camping, keeps the rest of us bite-free! Hahaha
I thought Hilda was a great name for the chicken, til I read the suggestions of Ethel. Ethel has my vote!
My zucchini plants are starting to fruit, I have 3-4 tiny 2” zukes on each of my plants. I am trying Midnight Snack tomato this year. This cherry tomato is supposed to be tasty, it’s getting huge and covered in tiny black fruits but none ripe yet.
Brianna says
For the chicken my kids say “Ducky” or “Lilah”.
Cathy says
How about Henny Penny for a chickens name
Terri says
I agree with “Ethel” for the chicken, too. I can think of a lot of cute names, but since you have “Lucy”…
When selling produce that isn’t a run-of-the-mill vegetable, you might consider a sign with an super easy recipe or a few cooking recommendations. You don’t need a lot of detail. The suggestions might encourage customers to try it. (I’m a good example as I’ve never eaten Swiss chard.)
Poison ivy: Strong application of Round-Up. Forget environmentally friendly methods on this nasty stuff. Spray on a day with no breeze. Never burn poison ivy. Wear clothes you can trash.
Ann says
Goldie Hen,
Amelia Eggheart,
Nugget,
Hennifer Lopez,
Attila the Hen,
Henrietta
Lace Faerie says
Attila! Hahahahaha!! Love it!!
J. Buhl says
I thought she looked like a Pearl.
randi says
you could name the chicken Ivy. : -)
But i like Jage (Norwegian for ‘chase’) pronounced ‘Ya-gay’
Tammy says
Goats kill off poison ivy! There was a park near us in Michigan that fenced off an area and had goats grazing in it in order to kill the poison ivy. For goats to effectively get it all, it takes three years though! So maybe some goat friends for your chickens? 🙂
Lissa says
Chickenette…but I’ve only had doggies.
One of our little dogs got into poison ivy (out in suburbia too). Only figured it out when we were perplexed by a horrid rash all around our daughter’s neck. Yep–cuddling with the dog. It was awful.
Question about the tractor. I assume it doesn’t come in a big box from Amazon, but how is it delivered. Nice boy toy though.
Lisa Rostocki says
Spray the poison ivy. I wouldn’t move it with the tractor. You will get too much oil on the tractor and anything that touches it will just transmit the oil and you will be in deep trouble. The oil can stay potent up to a year on surfaces. They sell soap that you can wash your garden tools off with to avoid spreading the oil.I know this from years of catching yet still avoiding it. I have ended up in the ER with steroid shots for yellow oozing wounds that were an inch thick. Trust me you do NOT want to catch a systemic case of it. And most of all DO NOT BURN anything that has the vines or has come anywhere near it!
Also if you see any hairy vines on your wood it is poison ivy. You will catch it from that so be careful what wood you are taking for firewood. Walking in the woods and picking up fallen trees is another place that I have caught it and as others have said I have caught it from my pet walking through the leaves and brushing up against it.
It is a beast to be reckoned with for sure. Most years I lost the battle but a few I went unscathed. Good luck!
CSirca says
I second the goats! We have 7 and they think it’s very tasty. They’ve put a significant dent in the amount of poison ivy we have on the edges of our property… plus fresh goat milk and homemade goat cheese…yum!
erin says
Bug soother is a great bug repellent. It’s made in Iowa and smells good too. As for poison ivy, I use soap called all terrain ditch the itch everyday when I shower. I was once told if you use it everyday it helps prevent it. So far this year I haven’t had it and believe me with 170 acres we have plenty!
Jess says
Awww she is sweet looking chicken! We just got a pair of new barn cats who are so snuggly and sweet…the kids named them Posy and Ashes!
Emily says
Tell your handsome husband mom jeans are in right now. All the college girls in our area are wearing them!
dawnelle says
We have poison ivy all through the greenspace that we back up to. So we can’t get rid of it, inevitably it creeps into our yard again. It’s awful. Don’t burn it- people get it down their throat by breathing the smoke when burning even. Another non-steroid cream if you get it is Sarna. Keep it in the fridge, and it feels good and relieves itching for a bit. Also, you may want to wash your shoes occasionally, if you are allergic to it.
I think you should name the chicken Iris or Marigold.
Ms. Sandie says
I second Marigold!
Deborah B says
LadyBird, name her LadyBird!
debbie in alaska says
I would name her Chase.
If those are mom jeans then sign me up for a pair. they look great. boys are funny.
Jenny says
I live with Star Wars fans and they like the name Kylo Hen.
Kipper says
Eggcellent!
Diane says
That would be a great name for a black hen! At least I think he wore black in the movie.
Lauralli says
Be careful of the poison ivy if anyone is your house gets in it. You can be exposed to it by doing their laundry, picking up their shoes, touching anything that might have the oil on it…..ask me how I know. No matter how hard I try to stay away from it I get it usually once a year anyway. Only thing that works for me is Prednisone.
marie Beers says
You might want to read this article—–very good information
https://www.prismhealthadvocates.com/truths-myths-poison-ivy-poison-oak-poison-sumac/
We have all 3 in Alabama on our property. We are using Cross Bow to kill it. I also wash with a poison ivy soap after working in the yard.
Teri says
What are “mom” jeans? Yours look just fine. I like the name Ethel for the chick!
Christine says
Yes! Ethel!
Sara says
Cora
Ethel
Hazel
Lillian
Edith
Katherine says
I have to remove all the poison ivy in the yard as hubby only has to look at it to break out. I got a bit of a rash this spring and used some of my lilyAna Naturals Retinol cream (Amazon) and it dried it right up almost overnight.
https://smile.amazon.com/LilyAna-Naturals-Retinol-Cream-Moisturizer/dp/B01ES349CY/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1531341962&sr=1-4&keywords=retinol+cream
Amanda says
I think the Lucy chasing chick should be called ETHYL! Because who chased Lucille Ball around at times on “I Love Lucy”? ETHYL! And, Ethyl sounds like a perfect chicken name too 🙂
Tina says
Your chickie looks like a Doris or Trixie.
Lisa MTB says
She (Ms. Hen) looks like a Eudora or a Virginia to me 🙂
Jenny Pittman says
It’s neat to read this blog and see how things grow in your part of the country in comparison to mine (SE Louisiana). Our blueberry season ended about two weeks ago. In my tiny garden I’ve been harvesting cucumbers for about a month, and just started picking cherry tomatoes a couple weeks ago. My big rainbow tomatoes and zucchini are almost ready.
When I was a camp counselor one summer, one of the “veteran” teachers would put Listerine in a spray bottle and spray the kids’ ankles. She said it repelled ticks and mosquitoes…it seemed to work!
Linda Sand says
Are you sure those apples aren’t supposed to be green apples? Maybe you are missing out?
Deborah says
If by chance you do get into poison ivy, as soon as you notice, wash with good soap and warm water. It’s the oils that we’re allergic to. Also if you have an outbreak, good old powdered laundry starch in a tepid bath helps dry it up. When we pull it up, we wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and one of those white mask things. Hubby is even allergic to it if it’s burned. He got it in his lungs one year when he was a teen. He inhaled smoke from a fire.
KT says
As for your non bearing apple trees, maybe they just need a good, maybe professional, pruning to get them back into production.
Marti says
I too live in the country. I know what poison ivy looks like but my dog doesn’t. I usually get a severe case yearly followed by just small outbreaks. The small ones I can work through, but the more severe ones send me to the clinic for a prednisone shot. I am allergic to all over the counter meds for poison ivy. I get a severe secondary reaction. When I was about 3 I was close to a burning pile of poison ivy and was covered with blisters from it. I think that’s what started it all. I sympathize with you because I break out from touching the weirdest things. Any plant in the mint family causes contact dermatitis–so mint, bee balm, catmint, and lots more. And we also have wild parsnip in our area to watch out for. Certain cold sore meds are awful for me–my mouth swells so badly. Having sensitive skin is the pits.
Vanessa Strawder says
Felicity is my chicken name suggestion – it means “intense happiness”! : )
Lea says
Friends of ours have a hen that color named “Ice Cream”! I do like both Ethel and Pearl mentioned by others here.
We have poison ivy and poison oak here in our suburban landscape and both can cause huge problems. I, too, grew up with the “leaves of three, let it be” saying. Best of luck trying to get rid of it – it’s the only thing I will use spray for; everything else I pull.
Bug spray is how your neighbors work outside with the mosquitos. We use Repel Lemon Eucalyptus (non-Deet) that seems to work well for us. An even better thing to do is to remove all sources of standing water (a breeding ground for mosquitos) and/or spray your yard in the early spring to kill the larvae. Our city sprays everything for us and we don’t have any regular sources of standing water, so our yard has few mosquitos. We do have a huge pond nearby but find the Repel works well. And yes, your body will get used the bites as time goes on.
Your garden looks lovely! I can’t wait to see the sunflowers all grown – they are going to be beautiful!
Lea
Vanessa says
Name the chicken “Felicity” – it means: intense happiness : )
Lynda Silveira says
I collect chickens and roosters. They are all named. Chickletts, Henrietta, Sam, Rooster and Roosters Grandpa to name a few. My name for your sweet little hen is cuddles.
Gina says
Just had a thought about all ths poison ivy lining the front yard…could it have been intentional to deter people from crossing into your property???
Chris M says
I think you should name the chicken, Diamond… then Lucy can be in disguise with Diamond.
Sue says
Argh!
Diane says
Can someone tell me… If you get it on your clothes, can you throw them in the wash? Or will the oils contaminate the tub and then get it on other clothes in the next wash?
Richelle says
Hmm. I’ve read through all the chicken names and think she looks like a Trixie, Felicity, Marigold, Hilda, or Ivy. Or Fiona.
Peggy says
Haha, I’m sure we wouldn’t know some western and northwest weeds! 🙂 I try to smother it, the poison ivy that is, for the kind you show in the picture, the vining stuff, I cut it with loppers close to the ground and let the vine die, but I don’t, or can’t touch it, as I’m terribly allergic to it. Smothering it works well, and trying to get out any brush and weed trees that don’t belong since it grows in the shade. Also, jewelweed is a natural antidote for it and Fels Naptha soap works great to help dry it up if you happen to get it. You wash with it, sounds weird, but it works and is a whole lot less expensive than the garden/poison ivy soaps you can buy. And your garden and landscape looks great, great job!
Oh, I would have bought the swiss chard! 🙂
Karen Chapin says
How about “Bessie” the chicken
Marybeth says
Hang old CDs on ribbons by the blueberry plants. They catch the sun and scare the birds away. I saw it years ago at a giant blueberry farm. I do it at my garden. It really works.
EDW says
Oh Mavis! I love reading your blog everyday. Your enthusiasm and love for your
garden and life in general just lifts my spirits and always makes me smile!
Please don’t stop being you ….!
Heather says
As for the mosquitoes…taking a vitamin b complex makes you much less tasty. Try it out!
Vicki in Birmingham says
Wow…so much for narrowing down a name for that little cutie pie chicken!
About the poison ivy, I have always heard “leaves of three, let them be”. I grew up in the city with grandparents in the country and it just grows any and everywhere in the South.
I have always heard that if you do get poison ivy, to wash it with Tide washing powder, because it dries up the oil and that is the part that causes the itch and causes it to spread.
Libby says
Just adding to the PI conversation – if driving your car down narrow lanes where leaves brush the car, beware of getting PI oil on the car. I’ve gotten PI several times on Nantucket this way.
My grandmother swore by Fels Naptha for washing skin and clothes that came into contact with PI. She called it “brown laundry soap.”
I hate using chemicals but I give in and use the Round Up for PI. I’ve had to use it multiple times in the same spot over the years as it kills the vine but not the roots. Maybe a reader has a suggestion for using Round Up to kill the roots? I could use some advice!
Amy L Kampstra says
How about “Chick”? It sounds like she and Lucy are kindred spirits, so it reminds me of the children’s book series, “Chick & Pug”…;)
Lynn says
Wearing a coat to avoid the skeeters in the middle of summer? You’re not alone 🙂 I wore a poncho yesterday for the same reason while picking blackberries.
Michelle says
I am laughing so hard about you not wanting to learn how to drive the tractor because that’s the exact reason I never learned to drive my dad’s!! I just knew it would mean more work for me!
Indio says
When I remove the few PI plants that pop up, I use round up on it first. Two days later, I put my gloves on and then trash bags over gloves. I use that to dig roots out and right into bags. This way I don’t have to throw out gloves. No way I put them in my washing machine.
Donna R says
Love Ethel also, it fits!! Our pastor in South Georgia died from burning poison ivy (sad but true). Avon skin so soft works good for most outside activity worth trying.
Pamela says
Plant lavender any place that you sit to keep the mosquitos away (porch, patio) and carry sprigs of lavender in your pocket while you work. I also wash with a homemade peppermint soap when I’m fixing to work in the yard. I’ve not had any mosquito bites (or chiggers) this year doing that here in Arkansas. Downside is honey bees love me, but no stings either. The deer ate all of my mammoth sunflowers, bush and pole beans. For the poison ivy, spray treat with ammonia. It kills the root system and doesn’t come back.
Julie says
Well,……Sabrina is my input for the darlin’ chickie!
And if you get any poison ivy on you… like above, wash GOOD …. but use something like Dawn, it cuts the oils better than lots of soaps!
Tracy says
I am a poison Ivy Magnet! I used to have to get a shot and meds if I came in contact with it.
My best remedy is DAWN Dishwashing Liquid!! It is the sticky oil in Poison Ivy that clings forever on your skin. I wash with Dawn after working outside and If Poison Ivy emerges, I scrub the spots with dawn and leave a layer of the soap on the spots. I scrub and retreat a few times a day until I know the oil is gone from my skin. It will stop itching and go away in a few days instead of a few weeks. I also use Gold Bond Rapid Relief anti itch cream on it and on other bug bites as well. Good stuff
Tracie@SomewhatAwry.com says
Your girl is beautiful, I think she looks like a Gloria, but the Ethel reference is adorable.
Definitely don’t dig out the PI with your tractor and move it, that’s just going to spread it everywhere. My Daddy SWEARS by this stuff called Amine 400 2, 4 D weed killer. You can buy it at Tractor Supply. Do you have Tractor Supply where you live?
I am totally with you on wearing your coat to repel mosquitoes. They eat me and my son alive, but never touch my daughter or my husband. My Mama always made what we called a “gnat smoke” just so I could go outside. Take any cotton rag and set it on fire, then smother the flames and put it into a small metal can ( we always used an old coffee can – when they were made out of metal ). You don’t want it to burn, just smolder. The smoke will keep the bugs away! The bugs, arghhh.
Love seeing your updates each week!
renay says
Chicken name – Buttercup! She looks like the color of butter!
Beth says
I’ve also gotten poison ivy from petting my dog, it doesn’t seem to bother the dog but it can get on their coat. Just another thing to add to your concerns. And my hubby hooks something up to the hose to spray the yard to keep the mosquitoes away, I’m not sure the name and I’m sure it’s not organic, but he only has to spray about twice in the summer and it really helps. They carry disease so I understand the coat!
Dawn B, of DE says
We have all three, poison ivy, oak & sumac. There is this combo we use called Tecnu. It came with lotion you apply before hand to shield your skin, and cleanser you use afterward to wash off the oils. Works great. Hubby is very allergic – me, not at all. Living all our lives in DE you get used to PI, mosquitos, ticks & every other person has Lyme. Deer ticks are as prevalent as regular ones. But, the good stuff outweighs the bad…4 actual seasons, the best beaches just minutes away, if you don’t like the weather – wait 10 mins it will change and some of the most beautiful and abundant wildlife around! You will get used to the bugs and weather. The East Coast is a wonderful place to live. We always named all our animals, from dogs, fish, lizards, chickens.. all of them. Usually the first name that comes to mind is the best one.
Margaret Sandlin says
For your little white and black hen Ms Salt &Pepper
UpstateNYer says
There are companies you can hire that do poison ivy removal. It might be worth the fees to have it gone entirely for the season. I randomly got it last summer and had it for 3 months before it was gone! I was not a happy camper about it either.