Your Handy Guide to Spring Vegetables

Spring is a bountiful season when it comes to gardening, full of fresh fruits and vegetables that add bright flavors to your meals. If you want to take advantage of what’s in season in the springtime, these nutritious vegetables will help you get started.

  1. Beets. Beets have been having a moment for the past couple years, and for good reason. What used to be the skipped-over bowl in the salad bar is now a popular addition to juices, salads, and even breads and desserts.
  2. Asparagus. Dense with vitamins and nutrients and full of hearty flavor, asparagus is especially plentiful in the springtime.
  3. Spinach. Green, leafy veggies, like mild-tasting spinach, grow especially well in the spring, and they make much more nutritious bases for salads than the usual iceberg lettuce.
  4. Peas. Forgo canned peas in favor of fresher, more flavorful peas right from the produce aisle or farmer’s market. They’re simple to prepare and have a wide variety of uses, and peas grow rapidly all throughout the spring season.
  5. Artichokes. Slice them up for sandwiches or toss them in a salad. However you serve artichokes, they’re always a pleasant surprise.
  6. Zucchini. You’re likely bombarded with zucchini each spring from friends and neighbors with garden surpluses, but that’s never a bad thing. Zucchini is full of healthy nutrients, and its versatile consistency makes the squash a great ingredient for everything from breads to stir-fries.

What's In Season? [Oprah.com]
Spring Vegetables Slideshow [Bon Appetit]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Avoid the Itch: How to Identify Poison Ivy

"Leaves of three, let them be." It's sage advice when it comes to poison ivy prevention, but it doesn't really help to take the guesswork out of differentiating the plant from other, harmless varieties. If you're unsure exactly which three-leafed plants are off-limits, memorize these identifying traits:

1) Poison ivy has compound leaves.
Each compound leaf consists of three leaflets that share a stem, with the center leaflet always having the longest stem. The leaflets are usually jagged around the edges, but you might come across smooth-edged poison ivy leaflets from time to time. All poison ivy leaflets taper to a narrow point.

2) Poison ivy is usually glossy.
The leaves typically sport a waxy appearance. In the spring and summer, the leaves are bright green, while in the fall, they turn red—but they are always poisonous. The plant forms flowers in the spring and berries in the fall. The itchy blisters caused by poison ivy are an example of contact dermatitis; the reaction is due to urushiol oil present within all parts of the plant.

3) Poison ivy takes many shapes.
Shrub, bush, or vine, poison ivy takes on many forms, and it's not picky about where it grows. You might find it crawling up or tree or a fence or snaking across the dirt as a ground cover. Also note that poison ivy is found commonly all over the U.S.!

Do you have tips for identifying poison ivy or for treating the rash? Share them below!

How to Identify Poison Ivy [About]
The Mighty Poison Ivy Plant [Mayo Clinic]
How to Identify Poison Ivy [WikiHow]

Heading Outside During a Heat Wave? Here’s How to Stay Safe!

You’ve had plans to go to a baseball game for weeks, but now the news report says that temperatures are expected to rise to 90 degrees or above. What should you do? If you’re faced with a day outdoors during a heat wave, it’s important to keep yourself and those around you safe before heading out of the air conditioning. These simple tips will prevent heat stroke and other harmful heat related illnesses.

  1. Be aware of weather forecasts. Don’t get stuck in a heat wave unprepared. Be sure to watch the local news, read the newspaper, or even check online to stay informed about potential heat waves in your area.
  2. Don’t leave children or pets in vehicles. Even if your kids are a bit older and you often leave them in the car at the drugstore or supermarket, take special precautions during a heat wave. Never leave a child or pet alone in the car, even if the windows are cracked!
  3. Drink water. If you decide to brave the elements and head outdoors, make sure that you always carry fresh water wherever you go. When temperatures rise above 90 degrees, it’s important to drink at least one gallon of water throughout the day.

Heat: A Major Killer [National Weather Service]
Summer Heat Safety Tips [Love to Know]
NYC Hazards: Extreme Heat and Your Health [NYC.gov]
Red Cross Offers Ways to Stay Safe During a Heat Wave [Red Cross]