Best Put Off Until Another Day

  It is usually just about this time of year, I get the notion that I want to clear a bit of the underbrush down by the marsh.  My idea is that this would allow me to view a few more of the critters that live among the marsh grass or dwell in the brackish water that fills the marsh.  Myriads of critters call this place home and with the underbrush filling the entire edge from my brother's property all the way back to the creek, I have a poor view of them.  Not that I want to clear-cut the place nor even remove most of the brush, my efforts would clear small spots that I can use as vantage points.  But, I have been reminded of something that I always used to tell the kids when they were younger.  Son gave me a stern warning that it is the wrong time of year to be traipsing about in the marsh.  Cottonmouth moccasins, snapping turtles and even large spiders are out and about during the warmer months.  "Why didn't we do this during the winter?" he queried.  Well, I did not think of it then! That being settled, I moved to a different spot.  I would clear a new hiking path through the woods to the creek!  Again, a shake of the head and a reminder that the Poison Ivy, Poison Sumac and Poison Oak were pretty thick this time of year.  Well, drats!   I will just have to be satisfied, pushing my lawnmower a bit further into the old path and hope for the best.  All of this is probably just a subconscious way that my brain is trying to get out of canning any more peaches or picking any more blueberries!  

  But!  Speaking of those poisonous plants....I agree about not wanting to mess with them.  Even though I have only had one bout of poison ivy in my life and that was when my immune system was shot by a heart problem, there is just no use in pushing my luck.  Son is like me.  We can handle the stuff with no ill effects.  Hubby, on the other hand, had better steer clear of that sumac!  Just the mere mention of the plant can make him start itching!  He has had bout after bout of allergic rashes brought on by contact with the bushes.  Pop was the same way.  I never knew much about the stuff until Pop cleared some fence lines that were thick with the bushes.  By nightfall, he was in agony.  Mom literally doused him with Calamine lotion until he was a nice rosy pink.  Poor fellow...but he never complained and went about his work as if it was purely natural for him to be matching the roses in his gardens.  It was then that he taught me to recognize the different plants that potentially could cause problems. I guess I was about 5 years old since I had not started school yet.  It was a lot of important stuff for a tyke to learn but I am sure glad he took the time to show me.  Life lessons are sometimes brought about by catastrophic events.  

  There is a small Poison Sumac bush between here and my brother's place. It is in a wide open space and can easily be seen so Mark usually can avoid that area with ease.  I have warned him several times that I plan on leaving the bush simply because I like the way the setting sun makes the bush seem afire in the fall. With the leaves turning red by late September, I can look forward to seeing a bit of blazing color.  However, I am treated to a bit of that glory even in the spring and summer months. In spring, the new leaves start out red and, occasionally, some never fully turn green.  They just stay crimson.  The bush stays, Mark stays clear and I cut the grass from around it.  It is a win/win situation as far as I am concerned.  

  Poison Sumac causes allergic reactions in a lot of folks.  The plant contains a strong  rash-causing agent called urushiol.  Since Poison Sumac is in the same family as Poison Oak and Poison Ivy, they all contain this gunk and while coming in contact with it will give you a nasty rash, breathing the smoke from a burning piece of the plant can cause major problems.  The same rash that may get on your arms gets inside your lungs and creates severe respiratory problems.  So...do not burn any of these three plants!

  Now a tidbit of weird trivia about Poison Sumac!  It is not even kin to the many other types of sumac in the world so do not even think about trying to make the sumac spice from Poison Sumac.  All you will get is a rash not an interesting culinary flavoring to add to your spice rack.

 With all of this mishmash of information about Poison Sumac, I suppose that my ambition will have to be geared to other projects.  Clearing paths and nooks will just have to wait until the weather is not so warm. Snakes, spiders and Poison Sumac rule the day.  I promise not to go mucking about in the marsh or creekbed for a few more months.  I guess I will just pick more blueberries.