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NEW YORK STATE -- With summer in full swing, the Cornell Cooperative Extension is issuing a warning about some poisonous plants found in our area.

Giant hogweed tops the list. It is a large plant, about ten to fifteen feet tall and contains white flowers. The plant's stem has purple splotches and fine hairs. Contact with it can cause serious skin reactions.

Next up is Wild Parsnip. This plant is common along roadsides and in fields and is currently in full bloom. A reaction to this plant would be blisters and skin discoloration.

Stinging Nettles are just as their name suggest. The plant is covered with tiny hypodermic needle-like hairs that inject toxins into the skin. They can cause redness, swelling, itching and numbness.

The list wouldn't be complete without poison ivy, of course, and its distinctive three-leaf pattern. Experts say these plants are out there right now and urge everyone to become familiar with them before doing any hiking or extensive outdoor activities.