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!

I have planted Lyonothamnus right along the coast, and they can be abit fickle and variable in vigor in high wind situations. I would agree that they are probably best with some shelter from wind, rather than full force exposure. You might also consider some smaller wind tolerant evergreen trees such as Tristaniopsis laurina, or the taller growing Cow Itch Tree, Lagunaria pattersonii. The Agonis flexuosa and the dark form cultivar already mentioned could also be good. If you are planting these in a lawn situation, the Mayten tree would still be a good choice, as even with root sprouting, in a lawn, with regular mowing, this wouldn't be an issue. Another classic tree for coastal windy conditions would be some of the Leptospermums or Melaleucas, much used along the coast both north and south. Another classic tree for coastal wind is the New Zealand Christmas Tree, Metrosideros excelsa. I have also planted the South African Silver Tree, Leucadendron argenteum 3 blocks from the beach in Moss Beach, and they are thriving, but this can also be either a short lived or temperamental tree. In any case, regardless of what you plant, you will probably be better off if you plant it out as a 5 gallon sized tree, and make sure that it is not at all root bound or any kinked roots at time of planting, and stake it so that the trunk can move with the wind, thereby greatly increasing the rooting ability to withstand winds. Even your first choice of Eucalyptus polyanthemos might have been successful if thinned occasionally while young, or even headed back to allow regrowth as a multi trunk specimen. I am willing to bet it had kinked or encircling roots that made it structurally unsound from the start. Other Eucalyptus species to consider might also include E. ficifolia, E. pulverulenta or E. perriniana. Smaller growing pines such as the Shore Pine, Pinus contorta or Pinus muricata might also be considerations. Post again and let us know what you decided to plant, okay?

Temps here last week were in the 80s, so everything started really popping up and blooms pooping open. Very nice today too. Worked in the garden this morning wearing shorts and a tank top and my favorite flip-flops. So nice. I let My Girls out for an hour this morning to scratch around and eat bugs and grass. They have begun to lay eggs again and need the new grass to stimulate their egg production. They followed me around, clucking happily and singing their little sighing songs. So cute! The Jane Magnolia tree's flower buds have suddenly begun to swell and there are three flowers beginning to open. I sniffed one and oh, that sweet, one-of-a-kind fragrance! The honeybees and Hummingbird moths are out in droves today supping nectar from the purple Henbit flowers in the grass and visiting all the flowering shrubs. I've even seen butterflies for the past two weeks. Tulips preparing to bloom and hundreds of yellow jonquils, daffodils and purple Muscari Grape Hyacinths are blooming. Hostas and Peonies are poking their noses up through the soft earth and looking good. I could go on and on... The weather radio report yesterday predicts there will be lows in the mid-thirties in the next few days, dropping down into the low-20s on Friday night. Ain't that just DUCKY! If that happens, even if it is just for one night or one hour, I will surely bid a fond but sad farewell to most, if not all, of this year's spring flowers. .I can just kiss the Apricots goodbye...again...for a second year. It will spoil all the new tender growth on the roses and send all the little seedlings popping up in the garden to coldest Purgatory, Glad I didn't set out the Cole crops and onion sets. Unreal

Today I recieved my orders from Lindenberg and Botanus. I'm really quite happy with the quality. I ordered alot of lilies, a couple daylilys, 3 roses, some iris, monkshood, a clematis, and aloestromeria. Botanus goofed up on the aloestromeria though. I had ordered 2 different pkgs of 2 roots. The one pkg had 3 and the other had ...peat moss. I couldn't believe it. I'll e-mail them tomorrow after I have a chance to take a better look at everything else. Last week I recieved lily bulbs from Veseys and Lily Nook. I've done a bit of shopping at 2 local greenhouses and came home with 2 martha washington geraniums, 2 blue veined double wave petunias,1 Ernest Markam clematis, a pink coneflower, 2 yellow and 1 pink osteospermum, and a couple of other basket fillers. I spent around $70 at the greenhouses. Thank goodness that I started alot of my plants this year as I haven't found any bargains. I still have an order to come from Dominion House and the bulk of my roses from Cedar Hollow and Valley K Greenhouses will be coming in a couple weeks.