Thanks to the fabulous linky skills of my readers, I now know exactly what the poison ivy looks like, and exactly where it is. I got it in contact with one particular tree, which has the red-centipede vines going up it, and which like a moron, I was grabbing and hauling on. (Since the gods look out for drunks and fools, I somehow did not get it on my palms.)

Other fun identifications in recent days are the lone trillum (woo!) a whole thicket of fiddlehead-esque ferns coming up, and Yet More Dogwoods. Some of them must have reproduced on their own, but a couple had to be planted. The previous owners had a real thing for dogwoods. I don’t mind. Who doesn’t love dogwoods?

We’re almost out of the old place–just cleaning and a few random items left to go. I transferred the plants over this morning. The potted honeysuckle is so enormous that the only place it would fit was the front passenger footwell. It engulfed the seat and draped a companionable vine over my shoulder. I reached for the gearshift. The honeysuckle wanted to drive. I let it throw the emergency brake, but that’s as far as I go until it gets a learner’s permit. Other, rather better behaved plants lurked in the back seat and tapped at the windows.

Athena adjusted to the new place quite easily. I was worried that she wouldn’t understand the concept of stairs (let me re-state that while a dreadfully sweet cat, Athena is, by leaps and bounds, the stupidest pet I have ever owned–and I’ve had guinea pigs) but she went up them with ease. Coming down is a little more awkward–the front legs and one back leg seem to have the hang of it, but the other hind leg is not clear on the concept, so she occasionally has to scramble sideways, in a vain effort to outdistance her own butt. (Like I said…not the smartest of pets.)