Poison ivy! New leaves are shiny, older leaves are not, Frick Park, 19 April 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

23 April 2026

Irritants? Yes there are many, but I’m talking about plants.

Despite our highly variable weather, some very irritating plants are growing well. Last Sunday, 19 April, I found poison ivy boasting an assortment of new and mature leaves. Just a week earlier, all its leaves were new.

Poison ivy! New leaves in Frick Park, 12 April 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Some people say you can recognize poison ivy by its shiny leaves but as you can see only the new leaves are truly shiny. The older leaves have a matte finish.

Learn more about irritating plants that get a head start on making your skin itch in this vintage article from 2019.

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