Thanks for the response! It's an enormous vine with leaves of 3 -- we also have Virginia creeper around, and it's not that. The berries were light colored or white, I believe, so I'm fairly certain it's Poison Ivy. I've been raking the leaves off & on, using shoe coverings from Home Depot & rubber gloves, raking then picking up with charcoal tongs & placing into double garbage bags for the trash removal. There are so many leaves that it's quite a hassle, but so far no rash ;-) At least next year we'll be done with the leaf removal -- a few new plants have popped up around the property, but I'm staying on top of them by pulling or Roundup. (used carefully).

Dawn, What a sweet story. I read and feel as though I'm walking with you! One day last week after work, I grabbed my DH and had him come out the back door with me. It was just lovely and after a long day at work, I could have sat out there all night. Something about fall, fresh air and turning trees. Also have a lovely sage (hot lips, hummers loved it too) putting on a fine end of the season show and hyacinth bean vines, mexican petunia & knockout rose also blooming themselves silly. DH might think I'm nuts but he agreed at the pretty. Just to let you know that I know what you are talking about. Please say "hey" to the cow for me when you see her. Have a wonderful week! Laura

Your child will get poison ivy, ticks and chiggers during its life if the child is a boy or very active. You can only minimize the problem. One of the things you should consider is how deep is the well and what kind of casing does it have. Is the casing only at the top of the well or does it extend 25 ft or more. The deeper the casing the less likely the water will be severly contaminated. Do as Rizo suggests and spray a fine mist wait a week or so then hit the plants again. Do not spray when there is a breeze as this can spread the poison on things that you do not want injured like yourself. Wear protective gloves at least.

As for the poison ivy, it depends on the size of the plants and the concentration of the plants. I had every thing from an old vine with the main stem about 3 inches in diameter, to young sprouts from seeds. For the vine with the 3" stem, I cut it off as high as I could reach ie well above the point that some one could accidentally touch it. For those small vines going up trees, I cut them and left them where they were. After a couple of years they rot, disappear, and are not a problem. PS; Hatchet for those small that I could reach with out becoming involved with, and an axe where I need to stay further away. For the small plants I use a chemical spray, and carefully applied it to the area if there were many plants, of individually where there was only one of two plants. After about 3 years, most of it was gone. If it is in the yard, the best thing to control it is a rotary lawn mower. Once cut off it does not seem to return. What ever you do do not burn it, as you will spread the poison oil every where and possibly on you and your face. Like many organic compounds the poison ivy oil will break down and not be a problem after several years.