Monday, August 22, 2022

Jewelweed

 The Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is in bloom.  It is easy to spot now.  The fleshy stem of Jewelweed is full of a gel that will stop the itch of poison ivy.   I need to pick some and put it in the freezer...just in case. 


The flowers can be orange or yellow. 

We have a little bit in the fridge from the time Far Guy put a bunch in the blender with some beeswax and some kind of lotion. 

You can also buy Jewelweed soap...and we have done that from time to time also...you can never be too prepared to fight Poison Ivy.  

Jewelweed is also called touch me not ...if you touch a seed head it will send the seed into the air.  Adam  thought the exploding seeds were pretty cool when he was younger!

Our neighbor Leah had a really bad case of poison ivy this summer....so I hope she finds some and puts it in the freezer just in case. 

Far Side

22 comments:

Dreaming said...

Never knew this! My kids loved exploding impatiens seeds. I have to admit there is some satisfaction in watching that sudden action in a plant!

linda m said...

I never knew that Jewelweed was used to stop poison ivy itch. Thanks for this bit of information.

DJan said...

My nephew in Florida was visiting his sister in Virginia and got poison ivy really bad. He is using calamine lotion but he'd use this if he could!

Betsy said...

I didn't remember this about jewel weed. Great information. Dennis got bit by something when he was working in the yard on Friday. He thought it was a mosquito bite, but it's still itching him. I'm thinking it could be a spider bite. Always something isn't it?
Blessings,
Betsy

Maebeme said...

This is new to me and I'm not sure I've ever seen jewelweed. I'm sure I'd remember the exploding seed heads.

Sandy said...

Fascinating. Never knew that. Nice picture of your flowers. Popped in from a mutual friends blog, it's always nice to meet new bloggers. Hope you'll swing by for a visit.

Sara said...

I've learned something new and interesting today! Had never heard of Jewelweed or it's powers against Poison Ivy. How interesting!

Sandra said...

I am also not familiar with Jewelweed. I have never seen poison ivy that I know of.

Susan Zarzycki said...

Wow,interesting. We have had problems with PI in the past. 💖

Red said...

I must check and see if we have Jewel weed here. we have very little poison ivy.

Galla Creek said...

Oh, I hope I see some jewelweed someday. It’s really pretty.

Linda Reeder said...

I'm not sure we have that wild impatien here. Does it work on mosquito bites?

Granny Marigold said...

I don't think I've ever seen poison ivy or Jewelweed but the latter looks quite pretty.

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

I learn so much from you. I'd never even heard of jewelweed or what you could use it for. That would be fun exploding the seeds.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Linda Reeder, I have not tried it on mosquito bites.

Miss Merry said...

I am going to look for some jewelweed! I wonder if it grows here. Meanwhile the lady that did not want to put up peaches anymore was gifted a bushel of peaches today. Guess what I am doing tomorrow.

diane in northern wis said...

I never heard of jewelweed but it sounds like an indispensable plant!
Hope you never need to use it.

Henny Penny said...

I did not know this about Jewelweed. Wonder if it grows here??

Wanderingcatstudio said...

How pretty! I had never heard of that one!

Leah said...

I need to check that out. Yes that was a nasty round of poison ivy, don't want to do that again!

Diana said...

I had a horrible time with some poison ivy back in 2003... right in my midsection all around my belly button. We'd been helping an elderly neighbor get her yard cleaned up and I carried a whole bunch of shrub prunings to the roll-off... little did I know it was in part of what I was carrying. Gave me about 6-7 weeks of misery. Ugh. That was not my summer... I was also stung THREE different times by wasps that season, all in my left hand -- even though I looked. Geesh.

L. D. said...

That is a new one for me. I thought I recognized the name but the flowers I really am not familiar.