Desert Demons

Springtime in the desert brings forth beautiful flowers  -- many of them just wild weeds that blossom profusely and color the harsh landscape with vibrant color.  Scorpion weed is one of these ... our yard blossomed forth with it and I noticed that when I pulled a few of them up my skin was quite itchy immediately so I stayed away from pulling any more.

My son who is busily at work remodeling the house we purchased developed a bright red rash with little blisters all over one foot and traveling up his leg.  Today he broke down and went to the doctor to see what was going on.  We all thought maybe he had a reaction to some of the paint and texture chemicals used in the remodel or the dust from that yucky grinding of the tile cement from the floors.  But no -- it's just a rash from the lowly Scorpion Weed.  So he's had steroid shot, has a prescription for steroid pills and a steroid cream to use to try to get rid of it.

Here is a site to read just a bit about this deadly beauty:

http://havasumagazine.blogspot.com/2008/04/beware-scorpion-weed.html

So pretty, but don't touch!

Blessings,