Northeast Gardening: First spring plant catalogue and burnt fingers, 1 by grammyphoeb

grammyphoeb wrote:
Patti - I can get poison Ivy bad. Never on the inside though!! That must have been horrible. I hadn't been into it in quite a few years and last spring with a lot of precaution I was able to pull the evil stuff in another area where I was preparing a new bed. This past fall I thought I'd try the same approach on this new area. BAD IDEA! I had breakouts in almost every area of my body. My arms from the elbows down to the wrist were covered and the skin still itches on my arms even though the rash is gone - they start burning and itching and drives me crazy. Our yard was originally covered with poison ivy and we have gradually gotten rid of it so eventually I will succeed with this job also. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I think this pic might show the area I'm working on. Colin and I were out for a walk and stroller ride taking photos of fall color and my DH across the canal waved to us. Our property backs right up to the canal with a tow path walk way and the Hudson river on the other side of that. Our landscaped yard ends at the top of the bank my DH is standing on, but the rest shows from the canal walk way and I really want it to look more appealing for the walkers and bikers. And besides I'm always ready for a challenge. Years ago I didn't know what to do with that part but DGers have given me lots of ideas. Talk about an awful mess!! I could leave it natural - everyone else along the canal does especially since the edges of their property are more like a cliff. Mine is more sloped and if I succeed in getting the area cleared and planted, it will stick out like a sore thumb, but hopefully a nice sore thumb. Eleanor