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Some Cautions

Though I include links and pictures, and do my best to help you identify the plants in this site, please be absolutely sure you have the right plant before gathering seeds or making a transplant.

When out, be careful of small holes in the ground – it could be Yellow Jacket (Dolichovespula) and (Vespula) nests, and they are nasty little things.

When out gathering seeds or looking for plants to take home, take precautions to avoid ticks. Black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) carry Lyme disease, and it can be nasty. Flu like short term, and serious long term health issues are possible. Any walk in the woods or fields can bring you into their territory. Often, the same people who want to eat healthy, clean foods are the same ones who will not use DEET based repellents. I don't personally agree with that. I feel the Lyme disease is a far worse health threat than DEET. I would rather not use DEET myself, but if it comes to having Lyme disease or using DEET, I know which way I go. If there are alternative products you trust to replace DEET, at least use them instead of nothing.

What I suggest, is tucking your pants into your socks and spraying your clothing at the very least. Hopefully, if a tick does land on you, the DEET will make them jump off instead of trying to find a way in to skin. If you are going to go into these areas in shorts because it is hot, I really do suggest putting insect repellents on. Ticks get on you when you rub plants as you walk by. So, open paths with no plants rubbing you are safer that walking through overgrown fields where you are brushing against everything. Laying down in a field exposes you as well. Get to know all the Barberry shrubs. They attract Black-legged ticks, and your chance of getting a tick on you is greatly increased by close contact with this shrub. It is very common in both urban and rural environments, as the Japanese Barberry is a very common border shrub sold at nurseries.

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