I saw this tree on the property, with mistletoe all over it. Yes, mistletoe is a parasite and can sometimes damage trees but removing it (permanently of course) can cause more damage than leaving it. There is a great link HERE from Texas A&M Forest Service about its impact on trees.
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| Tree with mistletoe |
This tree has had this in it for years and in the Spring/Summer it's green and healthy looking. It's only in the Winter, when regular foliage is gone, that we see the mistletoe.
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| Mistletoe close up in tree |
Having seen it scattered all around the property in various trees, 2nd Man and I were thinking that maybe next season, we'll have to harvest some and make bundles in time for Christmas...
Something like this would be kind of fun. And hey, we'd be taking lemons and making lemonade!
Anyone ever used real mistletoe at Christmas?
Y’all could have a little sideline Christmas business with all that mistletoe!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma was always one for maintaining traditions (thankfully), so she sent out the men each December to gather mistletoe. I remember my parents kissing under the mistletoe at her house - sweet memory.
Aw, what a sweet memory. Love it! Hey, if we gather some next season, you'll be the first to get some!!
DeleteMy mom used to buy it when I was a kid to hang in the doorways. Good idea about marketing it. We have it growing all over one of our old oak trees, so maybe I should consider that too.
ReplyDeleteLOL, great idea huh? I'm sure people sell it. :-)
DeleteDid this year. It's OK's state flower or plant. In England, they grow it for sale and only cut away part of the stalk so not to kill it. Strange.
ReplyDeleteCut away part of the stalk so they don't kill it? That is strange huh? I forgot it's the OK state flower!
Deletei always use it fresh when i can find it. if you go into the mistletoe business i will be first in line to buy some!!! i love making kissing balls with it for presents!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, I'll keep you posted!!! I bet you make some awesome stuff with it.
DeleteTake it round to the florists and see if they will buy any. We made a small fortune off our silver dollar plants one year.
ReplyDeleteWow, now that's a great idea huh? Thanks for that!
DeleteI've used fresh but it grows so high up it's not usually an easy task of retrieving it. A few years back on a very mild December day, Hubby & I were out on the boat and came across a tree covered island. One of the trees had fallen over and made getting Mistletoe very easy that year!
ReplyDeleteIt is kinda high up....I'll have to look for some downed tree limbs. Smart idea!! Thanks!
DeleteI like to see mistletoe in the bare limbs of trees in winter. I haven't had mistletoe in the house at Christmas in years and years! I guess there is never anyone around of any interest to kiss or I'd definitely would have some around! LOL!
ReplyDeleteIt is kinda nice to see isn't it? In a way it shows life is still going on in the dormancy of Winter! Ha, too funny, hey maybe if you have some you never know!!! :-)
DeleteMy oak tree keeps me supplied. Yes, I had it this year. But, I was not kissed as I stood under it. I did get kissed.
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Bough has lore of old about mistletoe.
Hey, if athletes get athlete's foot, what do astronauts get?
Missiletoe!
LOL! I will have to check that out. And your joke, now that's a groaner...but FUNNY!!! :-)
DeleteThe golden bough is mistletoe! Yes, thanks. I get lots of groans, but that does not deter me!
DeleteWe had a tree when I was young full of mistletoe. Dad would have to shoot to bring a piece down because the tree was so big. We always had some for Christmas decoration.
ReplyDeleteShoot it down? Hey, that's some thinking outside the box I suppose!! It is a nice decoration and so many have probably never seen it.
Deletegathering mistletoe but wouldn't advise this technique.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjIQpxdGWM
that's funny!! Hey, they got some, that's for sure, ha.
Deletenot good around pets is mistletoe. (said in a yoda voice)
ReplyDeletebut you two hang some up all over the farm and get to kissing! :)
Thanks for that tip, I didn't know that. I knew about poinsettias but not that. Thanks!!
DeleteI'll take your advice to heart, I guess you can kiss any time of year under the mistletoe, right? :-)
We have a small trained apple tree in our back garden which has mistletoe on it. It was getting so large we cut it right back apart from one bit. A few years later it has grown bigger on just that one bit. We read somewhere that mistletoe grows only as large as the host tree can support it, don't know if that is true or not.
ReplyDelete