In Arm's Way

 Spellcheck wants to correct my title to "In Harm's Way" rather than the way I intended.  It must not understand subtle humor.

Most people don't understand subtle humor either.  For many, only the purest "slapstick" humor is necessary, but to me that is the worst kind of humor because it is usually based on harm of some kind or another.  Maybe in the case of my title that would be appropriate since the word in question is actually "harm."

Along with the beauty of Spring come subtle irritants -- dangers if you will -- that slip in without notice unless one is acutely aware of the potential.  Sometimes that danger is disguised as beauty.  The pollen in the air which has driven my allergies wild is one of those dangers, but another which is a severe irritant to me lies lurking in the woods where I have been working to clear out old deadfall and unwanted brush.

It has lush green foliage and decorates many of the larger trees.  It is the Toxicodendron radicans -- also known as Eastern Poison Ivy.  As the "Toxo" portion of its name implies, it carries a toxin that is an irritant to those who are susceptible.  I am one who is.

Growing up in the Texas Panhandle I never had to deal with such a plant.  Most of our irritants had thorns.  Here, in the northeastern portion of the great state in which I dwell there not only are plants with thorns, but there are also plants that attack simply by touching them.  Springtime is the worst time for it because the toxic oils are at their highest level.

I usually try to wear long-sleeved shirts while working near the lurking vines, but even that is not always enough preventative.  The oils can get on the cloth and even be spread to other areas -- such as the face when I wipe the sweat from my head.  But the most common place that I seem to receive doses of the toxin is my arms.  It takes a few days before they break out into blisters but often begin itching within just a few hours.

There are multiple species of toxic plants that inhabit our woods.  Poison Oak, Poison Sumac and other varieties of Poison Ivy can be found.  The most common on our place is the Eastern Poison Ivy.  If you've never seen it, it is pictured below winding up the side of a large pine tree.