@Beth Gallagher The area in which we lived in the Missouri Ozarks, mostly wooded, had poison ivy everywhere, climbing trees much like Kudzu, eradicating much of the competing plants. I saw poison ivy vines thicker than my forearm frequently! These are 2-3 inches in diameter: Here it has climbed and inundated a big tree: The causative chemical compound, Urushiol, affects folks differentially; some almost not at all, some can damage their lungs from simply breathing the air near poison ivy. It never was clear if it affected me or not, as I was troubled by severe itching and skin irritation which even an allergy specialist failed to identify. Frank
That's a real good point, Frank. People have had some serious harm done to them by burning poison ivy and accidentally inhaling the smoke.
Poison Ivy keeps climbing on my chokecherry tree, and it sneaks up on me; it will be four feet up the tree before I notice it.
I've not had a poison ivy problem around my place, and now it's taken hold under my deck. I moved here 11 years ago. Why now?
@Ken Anderson My co-worker and friend from NM spoke of Chokecherry. I believe his mother made something, perhaps jam, or used it in cooking.
It's a cherry tree usually found growing wild, as birds plant the seeds everywhere. Most people don't like the taste of chokecherries, except in jams and stuff, where sugar can be added. I like eating them just as they are but they do cause a pucker. It's an interesting taste.
That would give my husband nightmares, Frank. He's one of those "Do Not TOUCH" people or he will regret it for weeks.
@Ken Anderson Anything like Persimmons? We had several trees along our road, loaded with the fruit. Said to be very astringent (puckery?).
Asian persimmons are a bit sweeter, but American persimmons can be quite tart if they are not fully ripe. They do look like tomatoes on a tree.