
Grasping at air – poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) aerial roots display bright colors as it climbs over 70 feet up a coast redwood. The poison oak trunk, as thick as my forearm, bore beautiful carvings, done by some unfortunate, uninformed graffiti artist. I shudder to think of the awful rash they must have received. Perhaps they will think twice about carving in a living being next time.