Poison Ivy

Nice weather we have been having, for the most part. Itching to get outside? Now's a good time to talk about Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). I have had some bad poison ivy rashes in my time. If you've gotten it, you know it's an unrelenting itching that will annoy you by day and keep you awake all night.
So what to do?

First of all, learn to recognize the plant, here's a link with some information and photos. Also, know that the plant is alive in winter, without it's glossy leaves, so a good rule of thumb is don't touch any vine in winter, especially vines with hair.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Toxicra.htm
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html

Second, minimize exposure and clean the oils off if you're exposed. Here are some solutions from various sources: If you know you've been exposed, wash with soap and water, but don't scrub; or, rub skin with rubbing alcohol after exposure (use common sense, don't rub your eyes, face etc. with rubbing alcohol); some people say the crushed leaves of the Jewelweed plant will remove the oil from your skin. The FDA website above is very helpful.

Third, if the rash develops...this is beyond my ken, so ask your physician.

What works for me: Tecnu Poison Oak and Ivy Skin Cleanser, sold at Walgreen's and elsewhere. If I know I have been exposed, I apply this according to the directions (no stinging, no funky odor), and usually get no or very little breakout. Worth the price absolutely.

Recycling Electronic Waste

Not plants exactly but for those who value recyling as part of the bigger picture....here's a quick note.

Davidson County residents can recycle old and unsued electronics 3 days this spring:

Saturday “E-Waste Collection Day” events:
9 a.m. to 12 noon.
• Saturday, March 28th -- the MTA Park & Ride Lot at Coley Davis Road and Highway 70 South in Bellevue
• Saturday, April 4rd -- Hillsboro High School in Green Hills (entrance is on Hillmont Drive behind the school)
• Saturday, May 23rd -- Dupont-Hadley Middle School, 1910 Old Hickory Blvd, Old Hickory
Items accepted : Small batteries (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, button) • All sizes, types of televisions, VCRs and DVD players • Cell phones • Microwave ovens • Stereos and audio-visual equipment • Computers, monitors and printers Only household waste – no business waste -- from Davidson County residents will be accepted.
NOT accepted: Car and boat batteries, paint, tires, CFLs and other hazardous waste.

Other info: www.nashville.gov/recycle, or call 880-1000.

Wildflowers, Plant sales

Today is March 22, it is now officially Spring. Yesterday was the Spring Equinox and we have a long period of lengthening daylight and pleasant temperatures ahead.Eager to plant....? Here are some plant sales being offered by local groups. Often reasonable prices, selections not to matched by chain stores, and generally supporting the work of not-for profits:

Herb Society of Nashville, April 18th 2009 http://www.herbsocietynashville.org/events_open_to_the_public.htm

St. Andrews School-Sewanee "Trails and Trilliums" events including hikes and native plants for sale April 18th in Sewannee TN
http://trails.sasweb.org/GenInfo.htm

Perennial Plant Society of Middle Tennessee, April 4th, 2009
http://www.ppsmt.com/

Related: Tennessee Department of Conservation, click on the link to find wildflower hikes : http://tn.gov/environment/
And I have to put in a plug for this great magazine, The Tennessee Conservationist, published by the state of Tennessee. It is so worth subscribing to the print version for the stunning photography and of course the great information on Tennessee cultural assets: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/tn_consv/

See the adjacent post for some photos of wildflowers blooming TODAY at Percy Warner Park in Davidson County. Enjoy.

Wildfllowers

Dutchman's Breeches
in bloom at Warner Parks

And red Trillium.... these are everywhere once you know what to look for. Also seen today, Rue Anemone and Toad Lily in bloom. Never dig these up in the wild. Write to me for links to nurseries who legally propogate and sell wildflowers. plant.manager@live.com.

What's blooming in late winter...

We've seen tremendous color as the warm weather of last weekend pushed things open. Last weekend gave us 70 degree plus highs. Never mind about the snow this morning, that's normal March weather.
Sunday drivers would have seen the forsythia that appeared overnight, the pink saucer
magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana ), and perhaps even some hyacinth blooms. Flowering quince, more daffodils, star magnolia and so on.
Thank you, by the way, to the folks who prune their forsythia to a natural shape. There's nothing like those tall yellow arms reaching for the breeze.

Easily overlooked however...are some happy blooms and shoots emerging in shade and woodland gardens.




















Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum, above) one of my favorites. It will grow well in deep to partial shade and blooms bright yellow May through summer. It's not blooming now, but the foliage is well emerged and it's a nice promise of color to come.
Want more winter color? Try Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica, next image ). Easy to grow in rich soil, again part to full shade. Already popping out, pink in this photo but they will show their blue soon. And finally, I saw a tiny Dutchman's breeches in this same woodland garden, couldn't grab a photo, sorry, time to upgrade my camera!

Finally, no blooms yet, but I was thrilled as I always am, when I saw my trilliums pushing through the mulch and compost. I don't know what it is but this plant has always inspired awe for me.

(And in the weed department...winter annual weeds that are blooming now: common chickweed, henbit, and purple dead nettle. Pesky as these are, look closely at the bloom of the henbit. It's actually quite beautiful. Now mow it or pull it before it goes to seed.)

So much to see, both grand and demure, and all this before the first day of spring. Put on a coat and go look.