Foggy, foggy day trip

I had a big trip planned: Perth, to the drug store for happy pills; Carleton Place, for some amaryllis bulbs; Smiths Falls, for new boots and a jacket.

Home Depot had some bulbs. They are planted. When I was teaching elementary school I would divvy the class into groups. Each group would grow some bulbs. They would plan, pot, water, photograph and measure their growth. Much fun!

These photos are from 2005!



It was also a PD Day here! Things were pretty quiet.
There is some development near the Home Depot, apparently there is some giant hogweed.
 

Off we went... next stop Smiths Falls.

Originally named Smyth's Falls in 1784, after Thomas Smyth who died in 1831, the little village began to take shape by 1840. It was a railway hub, after the canal was no longer used for defense or transportation. Lots of families had men who worked on the railroad.

About 1880 Smith's Falls started being written as Smiths Falls without the apostrophe. (I know, I shudder.) It was on April 11, 1968, that the name Smiths Falls became official. It took an Act of the Ontario Legislature to officially remove the apostrophe. Most locals call it Smith Falls when they use it in conversation!

Smiths Falls 1910

We had lunch at the Fort Hemlock pub, we are frequent flyers! The owner was walking by as we were looking at his framed photos. He is a 7th generation Smiths Falls man. He knows his history. The pub was flooded in 1904, when the river flooded. The river originally flowed across the parking lot, where the building with the graffiti now stands.

They rebuilt the pub, including the corner stone from the original building. The mill is now a museum, and the falls have been rebuilt to harness water power.


Crews are rebuilding the bridge.


After lunch, I bought my new boots. The Smiths Falls store, a chain, had a Black Friday sale. This is becoming more usual in Canada, it follows Yanksgiving. I was spray painting outside, and they already have yellow paint on them, but they are work boots! Annie likes them. A nice felt lining and no holes like my old pair!

Wild parsnip in ditches and herbicides

Mature
Wild parsnip
last year

I've written about the Wild parsnip in our ditches. The plants grow for two years, producing flowers and seeds in the second year. It was across the highway, in the ditch, and the seeds have both blown into our ditch, and birds must have taken the seeds onto our lawn, dropped them into my gardens –even 150m away from the ditch into the back yard.

This is an invasive species from Europe and Asia. Just like other toxins, like Giant hogweed, the oils on your skin react with the sun and produce a rash. I've had the same problem with Water parsnip in the pond. Who knew? Water parsnip is growing on top of the old muskrat push-ups.

Wild parsnip

The county has decided to do something about it.

Wild parsnip (poisonous)
at the end of our driveway

Lanark County will be conducting controlled roadside weed-spraying on sections of County Roads 1 (Rideau Ferry to Perth), 10 (Hwy. 15 to Ottawa boundary), 17 (County Road 10 to Beckwith 9th Line) and 43 (Merrickville to Smiths Falls boundary) from June 11 to July 10, weather permitting. The contractor will be using Clearview Herbicide Reg. #29752 to help control noxious and invasive weeds. Please contact Lanark County at 613-267-1353 for more details about this program, including additional information on how to obtain and post "No Spraying" signs for the your property. 
Doing a bit more research, I found more out about the chemical they are spraying: Aminopyralid...

Aminopyralid is a selective herbicide used for control of broadleaf weeds, especially thistles and clovers. It is in the picolinic acid family of herbicides, which also includes clopyralid, picloram, triclopyr, and several less common herbicides.^[2][3] It was first registered for use in 2005, in the USA under the brand name "Milestone".^[4] and in the UK under the brand names Banish, Forefront, Halcyon, Pharaoh, Pro-Banish, Runway, Synero, and Upfront.

PUBLIC NOTICE ROADSIDE WEED SPRAYING Pesticide ...

www.county.lanark.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=6438

Bush hog, July, 2014

Jun 11, 2015 - County Road 43 - Merrickville to Smiths Falls Boundary. The Contractor will be using the following pesticide: Clearview Herbicide. Reg. #29752 .

It would appear that they have been effective. The grasses are still growing, but not the parsnip or the sumac. Around the mailbox, we have several plants. They began to grow more rapidly after the county used the bush hog on the ditches, prior to digging the ditches deeper.

These are the 'befores'.

Sherry Steeves was gardening two weeks ago when she had a run-in with the wild parsnip, an invasive species that's a close relative of giant hogweed.

Renfrew woman badly burned by invasive wild parsnip

A Renfrew woman has been told to stay out of direct sunlight for three years after she brushed up against the sap from the toxic wild parsnip while gardening.

CBC.CA

Later that day she spotted black markings on her leg — and that was just the beginning. 

As an update, the county is continuing to attack this noxious, poisonous weed.

Lanark County ramps up the war on wild parsnip
Stories abound of issues.

Poisonous outside plants - they're ubiquitous!

Poison Ivy nestled at the base of my tree!

I walked beside the patch and
brushed my ankle through small leaves.
First contact. Not the last.

I say 'outside' because there are many house plants that are poisonous; aloe vera, amaryllis, datura plants (e.g.,Angel's Trumpet), Dieffenbachia.  

ANOTHER UPDATE: Water parsnip

Whilst most of us don't play in marshes and ponds, I've come across another poisonous plant.
I should have known. Water parsnip.
They are similar to Wild parsnip, and I began getting another poisonous rash reaction.

Pretty white flowers,
poisonous plant: Water parsnip

Wild parsnip
Yellow flowers

I have come to the conclusion that any plants with hollow stems seem to be poisonous around here. In last year's drought, the

Water parsnip gained a foothold in the middle of my dry marsh and frog pond.

Wild Parsnip

 Holy smoke: another poisonous plant! It looks like Queen Anne's Lace, but it is yellow.

1. Councillors want herbicides sprayed against wild parsnip
   

   CBC.ca ‎- 1 hour ago

   If two Ottawa councillors have their way, city crews will be spraying herbicides to counter the threat of wild parsnip.

Poison Ivy rash in October.
Another long story!

We all know about Poison Ivy, Poison Sumac and Poison Oak.

Leaves of three, let them be!

From Hiking Tips: The oil, urushiol, is found in all parts of these three plants: stems, leaves, berries and roots. The oil remains even when the plant is dormant or dead. 
I can attest to this.
The skin rashes don't come up for 3 - 6 weeks after initial contact. And the next contact, if you happen to get another contact (silly me!), the skin rash is worse. My mistake was forgetting the gloves I'd used to rip out plants. I used the gloves later and got the oil on me.
 You can read my full story here. City girl in the country, with city doctors and contact dermatitis!

Tecnu

 You can use Calamine Lotion in a mild case. The trick is in keeping away from it or washing it off immediately once you realize you've been in contact with it.

MECC sells a product that removes the oil: A skin and clothing cleanser. It didn't work for me, as I didn't realize until too late, and had the invisible oil on my gloves! Once that oil gets into your nervous system you are doomed.

In an extreme case, you'll need to see a physician, I saw 4. I was on three different Rx. skin creams, with increasing levels of efficacy. It wasn't until the superduper steroid that it killed it off.

 One of the worst: Giant Hogweed

Like poison ivy, they are hard to get rid of, are very toxic, and give terrible skins reactions. I first wrote about this in July, 2010: This specimen was found in Bala and Port Carling in Muskoka, Ontario. Near Weismuller's. You can't miss it.

The seeds are spread by birds, of course. Bless their little souls - as they are immune!
The sun causes the reaction, and much care is required. It causes phytophotodermatitis. Within 24 hours you will get large blisters and emergency care may be required. Phytophototoxicity is amplified by humidity and perspiration. The blisters peak between 1 to 3 days.

For more information on identifying or removing giant hogweed, call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, or visit InvadingSpecies.com or WeedInfo.ca.  

Kids use it as a hollow toy, like bamboo; it has a large and hollow stem. I heard of one employer requesting staff to remove them, but said staff member didn't know about its toxicity and ended up with terrible health issues.

White Baneberry

White Baneberry.. or Doll's Eyes. It's highly poisonous for people, cats and dogs. The birds do fine with it.

There are many outdoor plants that are similarly poisonous and I've found a new one:

Marsh Marigold 

March Marigold

I've lived in Lanark County for two years, and I am finding new ones that are poisonous if eaten raw. This pretty little plant sits in our wetland, just off The Point. Isn't it sweet?!

This plant is quite happy in our wetland. I didn't notice it last year, but it is striking in the green of the new spring growth.

Isn't it pretty?! But toxic when raw.

Marsh Marigold -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Caltha palustris perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) native to wetlands in Europe and North America.

Poisonous Plants - Marsh-marigold

Marsh marigolds, also known as “king cups,” are semi-aquatic plants, widely cultivated in the wetter, more acidic corners of Nova Scotian gardens.

"Buttercups and clematis: Glycoside, a severe skin irritant. Monkshood, delphinium, marsh marigold, baneberry, and larkspur: Highly toxic alkaloids." 

Rural THursday!

Invasive species

What are we doing to protect the environment?

Signage helps, but many do not care.

There are several species who are beginning to invade Canada from parts afar.

• Water soldiers
• Zebra mussel
• Sea lamprey
• Round goby
• Purple Loosestrife 
• Spiny Water Flea in the Great Lakes Region - competes with fish for food
• Giant hogweed.

Zebra mussels attach themselves to boats, and are shipped by recreational boaters or anglers wherever those who fish and boat place their vessels. 

purple loosestrife in a field

Remember the big deal about purple loosestrife? It certainly sits in the ditches and competes with the bullrushes.


People who take wood from place to place can provide transportation for insects that will endanger the fragile cycle of life. Predators must compete for food, upsetting the balance of feast and famine.

Giant Hogweed, from Britain, is a phototoxic plant. From Wikipedia...

Its sap can cause phytophotodermatitis (severe skin inflammations) when the skin is exposed to sunlight or to UV-rays. Initially the skin colours red and starts itching. Then blisters form as in burns within 48 hours. They form black or purplish scars, which can last several years. Hospitalisation may become necessary.^[1] 

How frightening.

giant hogweed

The stems are quite large (2 - 8 cm in diameter), lending themselves to pea shooters, and much danger for small children. Immediately wash the area with soap and water and stay out of the sun.

The sun causes the reaction, and much care is required. It causes phytophotodermatitis. Within 24 hours you will get large blisters and emergency care may be required. Phytophototoxicity is amplified by humidity and perspiration. The blisters peak between 1 to 3 days. For more information on identifying or removing giant hogweed, call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, or visit InvadingSpecies.com or WeedInfo.ca.

Then there is THIS invasive species...