I too am EXTREMELY SENSITIVE to poison ivy and recently broke out in a similar rash after being careless while propagating my all time favorite plant, the philodendron micans. I also suspected that had to be it so I took a fresh cutting and dabbed the sap several times in my arm and didn't wash off for a few hours. Somewhere between 12 & 24 hours later, I started feeling that familiar itch and watched as my test patch gradually spread out the size of a dime and rose up with the little tiny bubble pattern I'm used to seeing with poison ivy rash. THIS SUCKS! I'm in the middle of battling it right now and in my research found this helpful article. I also read another helpful tip that said the sap from these plants can somehow penetrate through standard medical gloves so thicker gardening type gloves should be used when propagating and caution should also be taken when refreshing propagation water. I plant to purchase some thick, SOLID rubber gloves that can easily be thoroughly washed. NOT those gardening gloves that have a breathable section at the back of the hand and wrists! You should also clean the tools you use and the work area. Rubbing alcohol AT LEAST 70% grade is known to be effective for cleaning tools that have come in contact with poison ivy so I plan on implementing that. As well as never shortcutting again by taking rushed cuttings and not doing the basics like laying out a protective mat and immediately washing my hands afterwards. I lazily let my NUMEROUS cuttings drop to the floor (CARPET!) and I know I didn't wash my hands right away like I normally do. A couple hours later I laid on this floor in a tank top and got a mild rash a day later across my upper back and shoulder area as well as my ear lobes which I believe is from handling my earbuds right after propagating my favorite plant. PLEASE MAKE MY PAIN WORTH IT AND LET THIS BE A LESSON TO YOU... PUH-LEAZE!

Hey Jackie, Look at my pictures - houseplants - and let me know if she wants any - i would love a few bachelor's buttons... I am gonna look to see what happened to my 3-tiered stand - i have one somewhere... Do you need/want any more strawberry pots? Here is a link that might be useful: my web link -

All of your bouquet descriptions sound lovely! I would have liked to use fresh flowers for my wedding, but cost and season were against me... I wish I had pictures of the ones I did... but we lost everything in the fire. I think the only wedding memory that survived is a video tape that a friend did for us... I should have some still shots taken from it so I at least have some photos... I used white and burgundy roses, white mums, baby's breath, variegated and green English ivy, and lots of old fashioned lace, ribbon and pearls. I began with the standard florists foam bouquet form, available at Michael's or Hobby Lobby, and began adding the silk flowers, largest first... then tucking in all the smaller picks and pieces. I made little picks of lace ribbon and tiny pearls, wrapped in a bit of lace, and tucked those in between the roses and mums, and the bouquet trailed off with lace ribbon and ivy... My bouquet was mainly white with some burgundy, and the bridesmaids had mostly burgundy with less white... I also made the boutoneers, card box, guest book, table centerpieces, wedding arch, sets of sterling and pearl jewelry for all my girls... I decorated the hall myself, everything was done in white and burgundy tulle and flowers with little white Christmas lights and swags of English ivy and roses, and candles on all the tables... I made my own veil, and even decorated my shoes with spray glue and lace pieces. I got a plain pair of white heels at Sears for five bucks! The cake was a marble full sheet with Burgundy frosted roses on white whipped cream frosting... I think the most expensive part of the wedding was my dress, and I got that on sale! My wedding was everything I wanted it to be, and then some! And the cost was very low! I bet you just love creating wedding flowers and arrangements for special occasions! I would love to do it, myself, but I know if it got too stressful or too busy, I wouldn't enjoy it anymore... but to just create the bouquets and sell them, I would enjoy...

I realize that we now have a conflict with the Raleigh swap. I just wanted to put it out there that while I can't change the date at this point, it isn't going to hurt my feelings if anyone decides that they would rather go to the other swap. Our swap was really only meant to be a small friendly gathering and I just thought I would see if anyone from here wanted to come since I occasionally do a little online socializing here. So.. if your interests have changed.. it's really no big deal. Maybe next time! :)