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20 Nov 01 - 07:29 PM (#596810) Subject: where's the mistletoe? From: Kim C Every year it's the same old thing. I want some mistletoe and can never seem to find any. I want some for me, and some for a Christmas package I am putting together for a friend. Does anyone know where I can get some, or does anyone have a few sprigs they'll send me? I'll pay the postage and all. :-) Many thanks! |
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20 Nov 01 - 07:32 PM (#596816) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: catspaw49 Kim, I have a sprig hanging from the top button on my fly if you want some to try out. You oughta' be able to go out in the woods down there and find some pretty easy Kim. Or try one of those Christmas Specialty shops. Spaw |
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20 Nov 01 - 07:34 PM (#596818) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: MMario or check with your local florist |
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20 Nov 01 - 07:35 PM (#596821) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Kim C You are TOO Much. I understand it grows up in the tops of trees? Heeeeeeyyyyy...... we're going to the wilds of Indiana this weekend, maybe I can find some up there.... see I just didn't wanta hafta WORK for it, is what that's about. I thought the craft store would have some in the holiday section but I didn't see any........... |
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20 Nov 01 - 11:00 PM (#596953) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Homeless Yes, mistletoe does grow in the trees, but not necessarily way up at the top. It's a parasite plant, and will grow where it catches a good hold on a tree - usually in the crotch of two limbs (be good, Spaw), and usually high, but not at the top. Just look for a dark green bush (I said be good, Spaw) in an otherwise emtpy tree. I lived in Indiana for a number of years, and never saw any mistletoe there growing (that's not to say that it doesn't tho). But when I lived in South Carolina I saw quite a bit of it in the old oak trees. In SC, the traditional way to harvest it is with a shotgun - blast away at the bush, and pick up the sprigs off the ground. If I still lived in SC I'd send you some, but I moved from there a few years back. If you do manage to find some growing, keep in mind that the berries are poisonous. Which is why they put plastic berries on the live plants they sell. |
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20 Nov 01 - 11:06 PM (#596957) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: mmm1a Try looking at wal-mart or K-mart.I've seen it at one of the 2. mmm |
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20 Nov 01 - 11:12 PM (#596960) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Sorcha My grocery story carries it in the produce section this time of year. Surely the florists can get it........ |
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21 Nov 01 - 12:59 AM (#596993) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: GUEST,BigDaddy Just saw some at a nearby K-Mart or WalMart or something. If you don't (or do) find some, keep us posted. I'll grab the next bunch I see. If you don't need it by then, I'm sure I will. :) |
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21 Nov 01 - 05:49 AM (#597046) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Banjer Several years ago I was not happy with some things at work around the Christmas season. As a form of protest I attached a sprig of the 'kissing weed' to my back belt loop. It let the folks know what I thought about the issue! (The issue was to remain open all day on Christmas Eve, 8 to 6. The boss did relent and let us close at 2) |
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21 Nov 01 - 06:11 AM (#597054) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Guessed Stubbed my foot yesterday its a misled toe **BG** |
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21 Nov 01 - 10:29 AM (#597168) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Kim C Thanks y'all... I will check at K-Mart, for you all know I believe Wal-Mart to be the evil empire, except when they have pantyhose on sale for $1.50. I guess we can all be bought, can't we? ;-) |
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21 Nov 01 - 10:36 AM (#597178) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: SharonA And K-Mart's not an evil (somewhat smaller) empire? |
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21 Nov 01 - 10:36 AM (#597179) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Fortunato Kim C. Here's an alternative. When you see someone you want to kiss, go up close, point upward and say: "Look, mistletoe!" When they look up, grab them and kiss them. Improvise depending on their response. If they like it slip them a little tongue. If they protest, just say: "Sorry, wrong again." Happy Holidays, Fortunato, inventor of 'Virtual Mistletoe'. |
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21 Nov 01 - 10:37 AM (#597180) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Fortunato 'SPAW, I've got some in my back pocket for you. Hee, hee. Chance |
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21 Nov 01 - 10:56 AM (#597199) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Sorcha I guess if you live in South Texas, you can just go gather bags of it from the roadsides. |
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21 Nov 01 - 11:22 AM (#597227) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy Kim, lemme know where to mail. When i go get mine, would be happy to stick some in an envelope for you. It's gotta have berries, so you can pick one for each kiss. Then you have good luck! |
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21 Nov 01 - 12:26 PM (#597283) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Kim C Well, K-Mart's actually closer to my house. ;-)
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21 Nov 01 - 01:27 PM (#597344) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Whistle Stop Bummer -- when I saw the title to this thread, I thought it was the winning caption for the picture of Bush and the turkey. |
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21 Nov 01 - 02:49 PM (#597399) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: mmm1a Banjer Thank you Thank you. What a wonderful idea, I just had a really rotten day at work and reading your post on where to hang the mistletoe just cracked me up. Hmmm wonder if the people I work with would get the message. mmm |
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21 Nov 01 - 04:37 PM (#597485) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Micca This might help with identification, Viscum Album, Mistletoe. in UK is usually found on oak and app;e trees. Click here |
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21 Nov 01 - 06:18 PM (#597543) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gareth Careful It's a sacred plant to the Druids ! Ahhh ! Give me that old time religion !! Gareth |
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21 Nov 01 - 06:26 PM (#597551) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Steve in Idaho Hanging this stuff from the top button of your fly is only going to get your zipper wet Spaw. Taping it to your navel might produce, is that a pun?????, better results! I spent part of a year in Phoenix, Arizona once - it grew everywhere! I couldn't believe how much it cost in Idaho. Steve |
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21 Nov 01 - 10:56 PM (#597655) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy Oaks child was sacred....handle with respect. Conversely, my sainted departed Father in Law, used it to abort cows that were bred too young. |
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21 Nov 01 - 11:47 PM (#597676) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Liz the Squeak We have a problem here at the moment in that it's been too warm for the leaves to drop off the trees, so we can't actually see where it is..... although I do know where there is some, 120 miles from me and about 30ft up in a tree which is neither oak nor apple..... If you want to see if you can grow some, try nicking a bit out of the bark of a fruit or oak tree, at the junction of two limbs where they form the V (Spaw, you should try to control those urges....). Stick the berries in that nick and with a lot of luck, something might grow. It gets there in nature because birds take a berry, find it tastes horrid, so wipe their beaks off in a suitable crevice (SPAW!! You've been told!), the beak scrapes a bit of the bark off and exposes the living cells just underneath. The mistletoe berries are very sticky and attach themselves to this layer, where they proceed to suck up the juices like the good little parasites they are! Alternatively, the mistletoe is on the end of the mistlefoot. LTS |
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22 Nov 01 - 12:36 AM (#597715) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Kaleea Why, in Oklahoma, of course, where it is the state flower! At this time of year, mistletoe is really bursting forth in the tops of trees. One might ask "how does one get it from the tops of the trees?" One would, of course, get one's rifle and shoot it off the branch, after which gravity would lower it to the ground (if it doesn't get tangled in a nearby branch) and one may then pick it up off the ground. And no, I am not kidding! |
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22 Nov 01 - 12:53 AM (#597723) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: GUEST,.gargoyle It grows as a parsititic organism on oak trees, elevation range 300 to 3000 foot elevation.
Go into the woods. |
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22 Nov 01 - 12:58 AM (#597729) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: catspaw49 .......and be careful not to step in a pile of gargoyle as you cross the pasture to get there. Spaw |
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22 Nov 01 - 01:09 AM (#597732) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Liz the Squeak Garg - much as I hate to state the obvious - woods are few and far between in London City, New York City, Alaska and Peking... and even then, you aren't allowed go in half of them and certainly not take stuff out of them. Most mistletoe sold in England comes from France (la guise or gui I think it's called - odd that it's feminine...), where they haven't had all their hedges demolished to create bigger fields (see the farming thread) so have good, mature trees in them. Besides - you ever tried climbing a 50 ft tree with hands full of clippers and bag? LTS |
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22 Nov 01 - 06:52 PM (#597913) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gareth LtS I don't think you would be flavour of the month blasting off with a .303 Lee Enfield or 12 gauge (Bore) in Hyde or Victoria Park. Gareth |
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22 Nov 01 - 07:10 PM (#597915) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Micca If you want to be really Druidic,and accurate, it should be cut with a golden sickle, by the leader of the community, and caught in his/her cloak as it must not touch the ground. It should then be placed over the entrances of the house.. The reason for kissing under the Mistletoe, is another pagan practice secularised and adopted the "serial numbers filed off" and the meaning lost, it was placed at the entry to the coven or " sacred space" and that is where the High Priest and High Priestess stood to welcome the participants with a kiss... It should be taken down and burned either at 6th January or at Beltane..1st May |
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23 Nov 01 - 10:37 AM (#598001) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler There's lots in the old oaks in Windsor Great Park, Berks, UK, but, as Liz says, you need a climbing rope to get at it - and watch out for the Duke of E. blasting away with his shotgun. (Is he still head of the Worldwide fund for Nature?)> RtS (how did Loki make an arrow out of it to kill Baldur or was it only tiped with mistletoe, or have I garbled my Norse mythology) |
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23 Nov 01 - 11:12 AM (#598008) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: catspaw49 Geeziz Micca.....If it took all that just to get a kiss, what was required to have a little sex? Spaw |
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23 Nov 01 - 11:16 AM (#598009) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy You have your mythology right, Roger. The reason that the mistletoe didn't have to take the oath not to harm Baldur was because is was so weak and brittle. The arrow might have been crooked, and fragile, but the stuff can get long enough to make one. |
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23 Nov 01 - 11:26 AM (#598010) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: catspaw49 BTW, any of you electing to take your 12 Gauge out to the woods and blow out a little mistletoe might also be advised to be sure it's mistletoe. Squirrel nests also look about the same from ground level.............. Spaw |
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23 Nov 01 - 01:49 PM (#598031) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Giac Shotgun? I want big bunches of it, not mangled pieces. For 50+ years I've used a .22. Shoot where it grows from the tree, then catch it before it hits the ground. Lovely! Mary |
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23 Nov 01 - 03:01 PM (#598050) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: AllisonA(Animaterra) I've never seen it in the wild; in stores around here you get a fake little plastic-y bunch with plastic berries and green tape covering the leaves. I would LOVE a big bunch of mistletoe this year, since kisses are scarcer than ever around here!!! |
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23 Nov 01 - 05:07 PM (#598080) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Liz the Squeak Just as well I don't have a .303 (although I have stripped and cleaned one, vintage WWI), because I's be tempted to go to Windsor Great Park and shoot the Duke of E with it, and yes, he is still head of WWF for N..... LTS |
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23 Nov 01 - 06:33 PM (#598130) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gareth Thread Drift A squirrel (North Amercan Grey) is just a Rat with a Bushey Tail and a very good PR man. Gareth |
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26 Nov 01 - 10:56 PM (#598196) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy Ah, but sauteed squirrel is a delicacy 'round here. Just in time for the holidays, too! It is your bonus with shooting mistletoe. |
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27 Nov 01 - 12:10 AM (#598240) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Louie Roy I've got at least ten ton of mistletoe growing on my property and I would be very happy to ship to anyone who sends their name and addresses and pays the postage.Mistletoe grows in a very large bunch so one bunch would take care of probaly 500 people Louie Roy |
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27 Nov 01 - 05:47 AM (#598354) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Trevor I've got some in my garden. First PM gets some, with a complimentary kiss. |
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03 Dec 01 - 03:11 PM (#602871) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Joe Offer Louie asked me if there would be a way for people to see how mistletoe grows. I did an image search at Google and came up with this: (click). This photo gives an idea how it looks in a tree that is badly infected - like a number of trees in my neighborhood. This one (click) is small, but very clear. The kids harvest the stuff and sell it outside supermarkets for a quarter a sprig. They don't get many customers, but the overhead is lower than Kool-Aid. I guess it's romantic and all for most people - but for us in Northern California, it's a problem. If you want an education about mistletoe, click here. -Joe Offer- |
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03 Dec 01 - 04:30 PM (#602924) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Steve in Idaho Thread drifting - Brown squirrel, Grey suirrel, Pack Rats, regular rats, Chipmunks, are all tasty - PR be good or not - Rat is tasty Yum yum!! Especially slow cooked over a nice bed of coals on a sweet Fall evening. Steve |
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03 Dec 01 - 08:20 PM (#603049) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Joe Offer Click here for a picture of mistletoe that Louie Roy sent me. -Joe Offer- |
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03 Dec 01 - 08:40 PM (#603057) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Sorcha Wow! Neat pics, Louie and Joe. Thanks! |
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03 Dec 01 - 09:16 PM (#603081) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: harpgirl ...it is a common parasite in old live oaks in the south along with spanish moss. As Giac says, tradition is to shoot it off at the stem and catch it as it falls. BUT...since I DON'T OWN ANY GUNS...I always look to see if it is growing low enough to get to by climbing. I've yet to see it at climbing distance from the ground. So, Kim...if you bring your arsenal down to North Florida, I will lead you to bushel baskets of it and you can shoot yersef sum!!!! |
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03 Dec 01 - 11:21 PM (#603160) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy Man, in our stunted oak trees (only in California would they be given the name "pygmy") you can generally reach up and grab it. By the way, is that a NOVA in the pic? wow! |
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03 Dec 01 - 11:27 PM (#603163) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: GUEST,BigDaddy By the way, did Kim ever get her mistletoe? |
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12 Dec 01 - 09:15 PM (#608722) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: AllisonA(Animaterra) I got mine! Thanks, Louie Roy! I got enough to give a sprig to every member of my chorus AND decorate a kissing ball AND save some for some more friends AND make a mistletoe crown for the caroling party! I'm going to be dangerous to be around this yuletide! |
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12 Dec 01 - 10:10 PM (#608766) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Louie Roy There is bound to be some mudcatters in that area that can help animaterra out I live 3000 miles away Louie Roy |
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12 Dec 01 - 10:22 PM (#608770) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Mark Clark I remember that Chicago's Mayor Richard J. Daley—father of the present Mayor—once made a public statement to the effect that for anyone who didn't like the way he ran the city, he had mistletoe on his coat tails. Maybe the misteltoe's still there. - Mark |
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12 Dec 01 - 10:40 PM (#608780) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy I mailed it to Kim last week....should be there soon! |
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13 Dec 01 - 05:24 PM (#609245) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Kim C I got it! I got it! Thanks Gypsy! Hmmm..... a mistletoe crown.... hmmmm.... I have a big ol' magnolia tree.... I'm wonderin what I can do with mistletoe and magnolia leaves...... hmmmmmm...... |
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13 Dec 01 - 09:58 PM (#609411) Subject: RE: BS: where's the mistletoe? From: Gypsy Okay, what is the history behind kissing under the Mistletoe? Does it date back to the Beltaine fires, in Oak groves? There certainly was kissing (and more) on those occasions. Any ideas? |
