Will the Real Poison Ivy Please Stand Up

They say the climate change has been good for poison ivy. I know I've been seeing it more and more in my yard. I blame the birds for bringing in all kinds of weed seeds. But since I can't do anything to stop them, I've learned to be on the alert. My bigger worry is people who come to visit and don't know what poison ivy looks like. Poison ivy is one plant every gardener should familiarize themselves with. It's not as easy as it sounds, since there are several types of poison ivy and many plants that play look alike. At a distance, I always think the wild raspberries the birds brought me are poison ivy, until I get close and see the thorns. About's Landscaping Guide, David Beaulieu, has put together a thorough photo gallery of poison ivy and its imposters. It's a reference you might want to bookmark.