A Note from the Webmaster

This is a new page on the Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center website. I'll use this section to discuss what's happening behind the scenes, plans for future expansion (suggestions are welcome!), comments on uploaded pictures, and anything else that comes to mind. This page will be updated periodically but with no set schedule. We'll just call this the "stream of consciousness" page.

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Site Updates Through August 9

I'm taking time away from the website from July 22 to around August 6th or so (no later than August 9). Now this is not an opportunity to go wild on the message boards as I will be online just not as actively. It's summer and my yard is a mess - time to head out and tackle that jungle including poison ivy (yup - quite a bit of it around here). I will also take this time to review sections of the site and earmark them for changes. I know that some of the information is old in places and that needs to change. Expect fresh changes to the site by the 9th.

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Pictures Not Yet Processed

As you may have discovered, I'm WAY behind on picture identifications for the "Is It Poison Ivy?" section. I do quite a bit of behind-the-scenes work to handle the uploaded pictures and respond to the questions. In the interest of getting responses out sooner, I'll give my "first impression" responses here to those pictures I have not placed in the "Is It Poison Ivy?" section. "First impressions" are just that - a quick look to id specifically for poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Other plant id's normally come later. The formatted version with expanded response will show up later on this website. I hope this helps those who have already posted but haven't seen a response yet. For those who have contributed pictures which require no identification (such as rashes or those who know its poison ivy), I thank you for the contribution and will definitely use the pictures on the site.

As I'm working on this section here, I think this may be a better way to at least give a quick thumbs up / down response for picture submissions.  Let me know what you think. Also, these below are not strictly in date order.

Submitted By:	Date:	Filename:	Is It Poison Ivy (oak or sumac)?
Zach	7/9/2003	plants.jpg	Pic 3 & 4 show poison ivy (3 leaflet per leaf vine)
Lee	7/9/2003	Dscf0080.jpg	Yup - poison ivy. I hope you didn't burn that plant.
Edward Goldman	7/10/2003	DCP_0499.JPG	No. Not poison ivy or oak. Notice the double compound leaves - that's a clue. Maybe pepervine or similar? Will identify when I update the site.
Mike Hardesty	7/10/2003	sumac_maybe_2.bmp	Hard to see the margins (edges) clearly on the leaflets. I believe I'm seeing finely toothed - if so, smooth sumac. If totally smooth possibly poison sumac - would need closer, clearer picture. Mike - problems with some of these pictures. Contact me via Feedback form link below. Thanks.
Beth Reynolds	7/10/2003	P1010071.JPG	Virginia Creeper
Chris	7/10/2003	RIMG0006.JPG	Initial guess: looks like a holly
Chris	7/10/2003	RIMG0003.JPG	Yes - poison ivy.
Chris and Mark	7/10/2003	poisonivy1.jpg poisonivy2.jpg	Yes - poison ivy.
Karen Jackson	7/11/2003	Poison_Ivy1.JPG	Possibly but not clear enough to tell. Can we get more pictures? Preferably closer. Contact me via the Feedback form link below.
Laura	7/11/2003	vine5.jpg vine1.jpg	Yes - it's trumpet creeper.  Unfamiliar with rash but will do research.
David Farlow	7/11/2003	Mvc-003f.jpg	Lovely picture of poison ivy. Great shot of the berries.
Jennie Hoop	7/12/2003
Vic	7/12/2003	100_0015_1.JPG 100_0020_1.JPG	Not poison ivy. Brambles - wild berry like raspberry?
Jim Tatum	7/12/2003		Not poison ivy. Will id when put pics online.
Tanya	7/13/2003		Not poison ivy. Haven't looked as closely as usual but may be peppervine or similar.
Mitzie	7/13/2003	DCP_0222.jpg	Yes - poison ivy.
Rob	7/14/2003		Yes - poison ivy. Guess it enjoyed the lack of mowing....
George Bozak	7/14/2003	hs1.jpg hs.jpg small1.jpg small.jpg	Yes - poison ivy
Ginny Schuelke	7/14/2003	100_1918.JPG 100_1917.JPG	No - not poison ivy. Leaf configuration. Lots of virginia creeper and other plants - will id when post to website section.
Todd Rauch	7/14/2003		No - not poison ivy. A clematis? will positively id when post to website section.
Greg	7/14/2003		Yes it's sumac but not poison sumac. The leaflets are toothed - perhaps staghorn sumac?
Heather	7/14/2003	DCP_0413.JPG	No - not poison ivy. Little tree or other volunteer?
Heather	7/14/2003	DCP_0416.JPG DCP_0417.JPG DCP_0414.JPG DCP_0415.JPG DCP_0414.JPG	The 3 leaflet plant - initial impression is its poison ivy. No to the poison sumac question - toothed leaflets (poison sumac are smooth).
Joe	7/14/2003		Lots of virginia creeper and other assorted stuff. No poison ivy.
Toni Vaught	7/14/2003		No poison ivy. Morning glory for the vine? The other I do recognize - need to look up name. Will positively id when put online.
Denise	7/14/2003		Yup - boxelder
Denise	7/14/2003	IM006387.JPG	Yes - poison ivy (and clover)
Kim Dyment	7/15/2003	Im000613.jpg	Bramble - blackberry? other? Not poison ivy.
Tom Funkhouser	7/15/2003		Will positively id when put online. Not poison ivy or cousins. Sort of resembles trumpet creeper though I'm not sure. Need to look closer at it.
Michelle	7/15/2003	woodland-side-ivy.jpg	Honeysuckle, vinca vine. No poison ivy
Michelle	7/15/2003	back-street-corner.jpg	Not poison sumac. Scrub tree / bush?
Michelle	7/15/2003	back-street-tree.jpg	Need closer view but what I see is a sumac. Smooth or staghorn? Not poison.
Michelle	7/15/2003	driveway-corner-tree.jpg	More scrub. Not poison ivy or relatives.
Michelle	7/15/2003	porch-view.jpg	Likely poison ivy. Will exame closer before posting.
Michelle	7/15/2003	south-street.jpg	More sumacs.  Need closer shot. Smooth? Staghorn?
Cecilia Liach	7/15/2003		Yup - that's poison ivy.
Brad	7/15/2003		Not likely poison ivy. Need to positive id for posting.
Chris	7/15/2003		Yes. Poison ivy. Nice growth.
Mike H	7/15/2003	Garden_001.jpg	Looks like poison ivy.
Mike H	7/15/2003	Garden_007.jpg	Not poison ivy. Maybe a clematis or other? Will id when posting to website.
Amy B.	7/15/2003		Not poison ivy. wild grape.
Andre	7/15/2003		yes. poison ivy - all pics.
Michael Duggan	7/17/2003	berry.jpg	Wild grape.
Michael Duggan	7/17/2003	ivy.jpg	likely poison ivy. Need to rotate picture and examine vine closely. Some concern about leaflet shape.
Michael Duggan	7/17/2003	trownvine.jpg	brambles. Dewberry? Need to positive id.
Johnnie Tarver	7/17/2003		Yes -  poison ivy. WOW.
Martha Crenshaw	7/17/2003		Virginia creeper at base and partway up. Think its all virginia creeper - need to enlarge and examine closer to make sure. Virginia creeper can cause dermatitis. Martha - if you see this please contact me via the Feedback link below. Thanks!
Christi	7/17/2003		Only picture with poison ivy in it is DCP_0775.jpg. Others are brambles - notice the thorns, bristles, stickers.
Bill Mansfield	7/17/2003		Bitter nightshade. Not poison ivy.
Bob Ingraham	7/18/2003		Not poison ivy. Will id when put online.
Renee	7/18/2003		Not poison ivy. Nightshade.
hester	7/18/2003		Not poison ivy. Bitter nightshade.
Meredith	7/8/2003		Yes - you did id the poison ivy correctly. As for the others, will give positive id when post online. Not poison ivy, oak, sumac - probably ok.
Mike	7/8/2003		yes poison ivy
Susan Brooks	7/9/2003		Picture 4 - poison ivy
Lance Overstreet	6/26/2003		Have id'd a couple of the plants but don't have solid info for you yet. Will be working with another on research and will post soon hopefully.

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A Bit About This Site

At this time, this site is maintained by one person - me :-). This is truly a labor of love and my real pleasure is when I get a little note of thanks about how this site helped. It's frustrating all the information and misinformation available on the Internet. I hope that this site is a little oasis - a spot to find information with pointers to so much more. I have many ideas of where I'd like to expand the site but alas there are only so many hours in a day. Here are a few thoughts on changes or enhancements to come:

• An interactive US and Canada map broken out into logical sections. A click to one of those sections will bring up all of the picture submissions we've had for that region. This should help in regional plant identifications.
• An expanded "library" section where I can put all my research findings. Currently, I'm researching T-cell and B-cell memory and urushiol oil contact. This should make for an interesting (well in my mind at least :-)) read when done. I've got ideas for many other papers which will help summarize the information found throughout the site. I hope the library will become a jumping off point for this website.
• An "question of the day" poll. I find it interesting how people approach plant identification, eradication, rash treatment, and more (yes - this is a very strange hobby of mine)
• Whatever else pops into my head. Suggestions are always welcome - you can communicate with me via the "Feedback" link at the bottom of every page.

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