Poison ivy was a part of my growing up with pills, creams and shots to neutralize and reduce it's impact… and cortisone shots when I got it, at least twice a year!

I volunteered with the American Littoral Society clearing invasive plant species, brazilian pepper and austrailian pine, on barrier islands along the intracoastal waterways and in tampa bay shorelines.

We worked mostly in Sarasota County, then was to asked to clear an uninhabited island south of the Skyway Bridge, near Terra Ceia Bay and Rattlesnake Key. One days work!

It was accessible only by boat and we had to wade ashore portaging the equipment on a raft. As we came ashore I noticed some flora and fauna that I hadn't seen in Florida but really thought nothing about it. About an hour later I realized "ohhhh, poison ivy"!!! We were now on the island till the boat returns at dusk, so kept on working. Now I have a long, long history with poison ivy, with really only a couple years being P.I. - free! On the way home I stopped at a number of stores looking for Kirkman Brown soap - perfect for the dread I knew was coming! I discovered there is none in Florida and still isn't. The following day we all had varying cases to report.

The noir-ish presentation is reflective of my attitude toward the sinister vine. I do think it’s quite attractive though, especially around Disbrow Park in Rye, NY, which has the biggest patch I’ve ever seen!