Poison ivy turning

The title of this post is actually not quite accurate because, if you include the straw color of the Hay-scented Ferns, the color show has been going on for at least a couple of weeks. And if you include the birches attempting to eke out a living on the rocks of the road cuts and other meager-water spots—the places first hit by even an incipient drought—there was leaf color in late August. The lack of sufficient precipitation continues, and though there's drizzle and, praise be, a little genuine rain, in the forecast, the damage to the trees and shrubs is done. Many are starting to turn early and drop their leaves. The Poison Ivy, however, is right on schedule. A few weeks before the hardwoods are at Jack Frost color peak, the PI goes from green to hot-coal orange. It and other shade plants change color early because the light that dictates the show shifts into the proper frequency in the understory sooner than in the canopy. Our abundant crops of PI have gotten the message and are now putting on a beautiful display. But: look, don't touch. The leaves may be soothing to the eyes and balm for the soul, but they've lost little of their itch-producing PI essence.