14 replies to this topic

[folsom500]

I have been walking the Folsom trails much more recently and have wondered if Poison Oak or Poison Sumac are common next to or off trail in this area.

[rip]

Poison oak is very common.  Easy to get into it if you aren't aware. 

[4thgenFolsomite]

yes, LOTS of poison oak. and it loves to grow right on the trail edge.  look for the distinctive lobbed leaves and learn it well. 

[2 Aces]

Good map:

http://www.zanfel.co...-prevalence.pdf

[chris v]

Poison oak everywhere in Folsom. And I can't seem to stay out of it. Currently have it all over my legs.

[folsom500]

is it always a three leaf affair ?   I see a lot of what looks like berries as they have more than three leaves and are cut edge and not lobed.  Is this accurate ?  - Reason I ask is that I sometimes find a small path off the regular one and have and want to travel the little paths to wherever they lead sometimes...

[rip]

No berries, smooth, shiny leaves, typically in 3 leaf clusters.  The old saying "Leaves of three, leave it be;" will serve you well around here.  Had some on my arm so bad this spring (mountain bike ride near Browns Ravine) had to go to the doc and get steroids to clear it up.  Nasty stuff.

[keyplayer]

It is much easier to spot when it gets huge and red.  Right now it is green and blends in better.  Leaves of three is a good rule.  And be careful about touching clothes after a walk.  You can get it from the oils that stay on clothing.

[olivia]

I believe sumac is on east coast.  PO is our burden. Leaves of 3, let it be.

[4thgenFolsomite]

It is much easier to spot when it gets huge and red.  Right now it is green and blends in better.  Leaves of three is a good rule.  And be careful about touching clothes after a walk.  You can get it from the oils that stay on clothing.

this.  my mother used to get it just by washing her clothes with my dad's after he had been clearing brush.  he didnt get it so he didnt stay out of it.  my mom got it horribly, and got it just from their clothes washing together.  also, no one is going to feel good if they get the smoke from burning poison oak in their lungs.  ugh.  that is rough.  right now i think the oils are even more abundant on the leaves so its super potent.  not that it isn't all year.

[supermom]

http://www.zanfel.co...lp/rashfaq.html

 

Comes with a map that shows where each of the types of poison are proliferant. 

Has a nice description of myths and truths about the poisons.

 

BTW:

 

4) Do not burn any suspicious plants.
    Burning the problematic plant and inhaling its smoke can cause a systemic reaction, which can be deadly. Also, do not burn
    items of clothing or rags that may have been exposed.

 

This happened to me as a kid. I inhaled burning poison oak from our furnace one weekend when cleaning the pastures of unwanted weeds the goats wouldn't eat. 

 

if you can imagine how uncomcomfortable poison oak is on the outside of your skin- imagine it in your throat and eyes..

[Sandman]

We have poison oak all throughout the foothills here in CA.  Its fairly abundant. I seem to catch it just by looking at it.  Hate that stuff...  Got it so bad one time in my 20s due to a mountain biking accident in 100* heat wearing no shirt, went over the bars and landed in a bush.  Was in the ER the next day getting cortisone shots.  No fun...

 

Even in the winter time when there are no leaves I have gotten it by brushing up against the bare stems.

 

On the other hand I know people who can grab it by the handfuls and doesn't affect them one bit. 

[camay2327]

I break out very badly when I get into poison oak. I couldn't find out where I was getting into it because I never saw it in the back yard.

The guy that sprays our front and back yard saw it and pointed it out to me. We just had someone re-landscape our front and back yards and they found

the poison oak and got rid of it for now.

[granto]

We need goats, lots and lots of goats.  They love the stuff.

[supermom]

#1 rule for people with dogs

 

Don't let your dog off leash near bike paths in Folsom. Poison oak grows just as abundantly as fire weed.

 

#2 rule for people who break #1 rule

 

Don't pet your dog - take it through a park and wash (there is one on Folsom Blvd) and bring enough dog shampoo to lather up the southern tip of France.

 

#3 rule for people who have goats that you think are eating your poison oak

They really aren't. They are actually laying down in it- rubbing themselves all up in that poison oak oil and then running straight to your laundry machines and immersing themselves in all your white cotton socks. So don't forget to bleach the socks when you are done messing around in the back yard!!