This is the beautiful path that I walk almost daily with my dog Gloria. The problem is; I catch poison Ivy and poison oak...well...basically poison anything. BAD! When I get it, it spreads like fire and I keep it all year.

Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
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That's why I was concerned when I noticed the shiny leaves on these plants on my walk. I've noticed it in the past, but never bothered to ask anyone if I should keep the dog away? I just keep my dog OUT of that. She now thinks that it's bad as I won't let her walk through the ivy-ish looking stuff. So what do you think?

Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
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I've been told in the past that poison Ivy has 3 leaves and is shiny.... well this Ivy has 5 leaves...I've also been told that poison oak and ivy can both have 3 or 5 leaves...thus...my fear of getting to close to this. The problem is...it's everywhere on my path...even next to buildings.

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Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
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What do you think this is? I've asked my friends on Facebook to help me out with this questions. So far people said, Virginia Creeper,  Engelmen Ivy, or Woodbine...but one thing everyone agreed on...it is NOT poisonous and it's not Poison Oak or Poison Ivy.

Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
Townsquare Media/Kelly Cordes
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One of my friends suggested that I download thee Plant Snap App. So I did.  According to Plant Snap, it is called Parthenocissus Vitacea, otherwise known as Thicket Creeper, otherwise known as false Virginia Creeper.  It develops small purplish hard black berries that are moderately poisonous for humans but not for birds.  It is NOT poisonous and it cannot climb smooth surfaces like Virginia Creeper can.

If you have an allergic reaction to ivy's or grasses, it always best to find out. The Plant Snap App came up  with a few different answers depending on the photo I used, but the majority of the pictures I sent chose the Thicket Creeper as the answer.

 

Here are some tips for self-care during the pandemic:

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