This was taken in lovely Duchess County in New York State on a particularly lovely dairy farm. 

What happens in cases like this, where poison ivy climbs up a fence post or dead tree, is that when it reach the top it “looks” in all directions for the next place to climb. Finding none, it just explodes in all directions, soaking up sun and hoping for the best.

But since this looks like a small tree, perhaps even a decorative tree, many people would not realize it is a poison ivy climbing vine gone berserk. And touching it, pulling off branches for seasonal decorations, or any other interaction could result in a skin rash that would ruin your whole summer.

So… be aware that poision ivy (and poison oak in California) can grow like this.