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Don't Let Poison Ivy Ruin Your Outdoor Plans
 Would you be able to spot poison ivy if you came across it in your backyard or along a trail in a wooded area? The old saying "Leaves of three, let it be!" is a helpful reminder for identification. Poison ivy begins to appear in early spring and continues to be poisonous through the fall. When in contact with skin, the sap oil (urushiol) of this plant can cause an allergic reaction.
Identification
- Three pointed leaves with the middle one appearing larger than the
two outside leaves
- Red leaves in spring, green leaves in summer, yellow or deep red
leaves in fall
- Shiny, oily appearance
Symptoms of Skin Contact
- Red rash within a few days of contact
- Swelling
- Itching
- Possible bumps, patches, streaking or weeping blisters
Protect Yourself
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, boots and gloves
- Barrier creams or lotions, such as Ivy Block, can be applied beforehand to reduce the risk of
a rash
- Burning these poisonous plants produces smoke that, when inhaled, can cause lung irritation
First Aid
- Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol, poison plant wash, or degreasing soap (such as
dishwashing soap) and lots of water
- Scrub under nails with a brush
- Apply wet compresses, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream to the skin to reduce itching
and blistering
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Back by popular demand, kayaks are now available to rent 7 days a week at the beautiful, cypress-lined 
Our everyday choices affect the environment, and how we choose to dispose of the things we no longer, want, need or use can have either positive or negative impacts. We are lucky enough to live in an area where we have options for disposal of old clothes, shoes, food products, household trash, etc. There are organizations that reuse, repurpose or resell items we no longer need; we have curbside recycling and trash pickup; and we can build composting areas in our yards.