09.26.07 CRIMSON CLIMBER

Posion ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, is showing off once again. My last entry recognized the beautiful red of its brand new spring leaves. The leaves have turned back to red again from summer green. Its fall coloring is an early color in the autumn forest and is quite spectacular inspite of the plants bad reputation.

04.06.07 ITS BACK

Poison ivy that is. Beautiful glossy red leaves spiraling out of the leaf litter or sprouting out of the massive vines hanging from the trees by their hairy tendrils. The beauty of the spring leaves is surpassed in the fall by a blazing crimson. One early American naturalist suggested the plant as an ornamental. (He must have had someone else to do the actual digging and pruning for him!)