Autumn ivy, as with all the other growth forms of poison ivy, is still “poisonous.” The leaves on the vine form are becoming weathered and worn, tattered and torn, and just plain old this deciduous plant, which is its way of saying autumn’s beginning. The leaflets of the plant’s trifoliate leaves are still there to cause discomfort to some.
A farm in the region is pictured in this 2020 photo. Autumn colors have only just begun in Sauk County. (Reedsburg Independent file photo)
Autumn color is just starting in Sauk County, according to the state’s Fall Color Report.
According to the report, most of Sauk County is at 20 percent of its peak color, meaning the best shades will be showing up later this month. Predictions say that’s likely to be the second or third week of October.
Some of the most toxic plants are quite pretty in spite of their negative characters. Include jimsonweed in this category.
Devil’s trumpet (genus: Datura), as it’s sometimes called, is toxic to all livestock and humans, with most cases involving cattle. Because the plant is unpalatable, poisoning is uncommon.
“You don’t waste October sunshine. Soon the old autumn sun would bed down in cloud blankets, and there would be weeks of gray rain before it finally decided to snow.” ~Katherine Arden, Small Spaces
The Painted Forest in Valton has several activities planned during the Hill & Valley Exploration Tour this weekend. Admission will be free.
Ancestra will entertain at 1 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. This Madison-based a cappella trio is influenced by rock, blues, gospel and country styles.
