tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post8916639705522534950..comments2024-03-25T12:21:56.752-05:00Comments on Sweethearts Of The West: The Mistletoe Mystery by Sarah J. McNealCaroline Clemmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-38578016736651162422017-12-19T15:39:08.154-06:002017-12-19T15:39:08.154-06:00Thank you for bringing it to my attention that you...Thank you for bringing it to my attention that you wrote about mistletoe last year, Cheri. My apologies for choosing mistletoe for my Christmas subject this year. Try though we all may to write about a new subject, it is difficult to do so during a holiday since most aspects of the holiday have most likely already been addressed. Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-50491007041806408372017-12-19T13:36:43.825-06:002017-12-19T13:36:43.825-06:00I'll look it upI'll look it up<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-90143401972597434502017-12-19T13:02:29.563-06:002017-12-19T13:02:29.563-06:00Actually I wrote about mistletoe on our blog last ...Actually I wrote about mistletoe on our blog last December, but as Celia has said, always can learn more on any given subject when written differently. Enjoyed your article just as much, Sarah.Cheri Kay Cliftonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02880562780953746133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-89371015242854917562017-12-19T12:30:30.514-06:002017-12-19T12:30:30.514-06:00Lyn, I am so happy you came by and read my blog. M...Lyn, I am so happy you came by and read my blog. Much of this information was new to me as well until I researched it. Learning things is part of the fun of writing and reading blogs.<br />Thank you for coming.Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-31056321086350058552017-12-19T12:26:29.871-06:002017-12-19T12:26:29.871-06:00Great information, E., and I particularly liked th...Great information, E., and I particularly liked the part about the bird seed distribution.<br />I am certain there are many young men who enjoy shooting the mistletoe down...just because it's there, but it's good to know they are actually helping to preserve the growth of the mistletoe.<br />I once lived in a house with extremely poisonous Lily of the Valley growing by the steps to the kitchen door. Fortunately, my dog couldn't get to them because the fenced in yard did not include that area. My previous Golden Retriever, Kate, ate everything in the backyard including a thorny rosebush and a fragrant olive bush along with a pair of glasses, a cell phone, and a pin cushion. It's a wonder she survived puppyhood.<br />It was so nice to have you come by and include all that good information in your comment. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you.Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-14881116173937205462017-12-19T12:02:51.078-06:002017-12-19T12:02:51.078-06:00Sarah, very interesting history of mistletoe. I kn...Sarah, very interesting history of mistletoe. I knew the use of it at the winter solstice dated back to pagan times, but not all the fascinating details. Also didn't know the plant is poisonous. Thanks for sharing!Lyn Hornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596495172490672271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-14845193195746459562017-12-18T23:50:49.413-06:002017-12-18T23:50:49.413-06:00I didn't know the history behind kissing under...I didn't know the history behind kissing under the mistletoe. How interesting history can be!<br /><br />As for today's mistletoe, the reason why people shoot it with a shotgun from those high branches is that it's easier to harvest and it won't ruin the plants' delicate roots. Thus assuring a harvest next year. (It does NOT harm the host tree.)<br /><br />The berries are not poisonous to birds! In fact, they must digest the berry with the seed. Then after the seed goes through their system, the bird must deposit it into a crack in a tree's bark. It's a real hit or miss job. :-) The seed will sprout roots and start another plant. Unfortunately man has not figured out how to reproduce a bird's stomach or digestive track. So we're completely dependent on nature to reproduce fertile seed.<br /><br />It is poisonous to our pets. And just as poisonous to humans. But one thing I do know is that often a little of something is just fine but too much will kill you. Maybe back when we were dependent on the medicine from plants, someone figured out just how much... I certainly never want to mess with anything that is known to be poisonous. Remember quite a few of our houseplants are poisonous. If you have pets, consider them before you buy that pretty houseplant on sale.<br /><br />I'll stick with the beautiful silk mistletoe with plastic berries. (Oh, these artificial berries are choking hazards for small children. We live dangerous lives, don't we?)<br /><br />Thank you, Sarah, for such an interesting post.E. Ayershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01434761738048963826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-91974086822572991152017-12-18T21:06:47.955-06:002017-12-18T21:06:47.955-06:00Cheryl, I had no idea. mistletoe is the state plan...Cheryl, I had no idea. mistletoe is the state plant for Oklahoma. That is such an interesting tidbit.<br />What a great idea the kids had for getting mistletoe and selling it. They were industrious little entrepreneurs.<br />Thanks so much for coming.Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-82636268063583380702017-12-18T21:02:24.806-06:002017-12-18T21:02:24.806-06:00Your decoration idea with mistletoe and ribbon sou...Your decoration idea with mistletoe and ribbon sounds so pretty. Here in North Carolina the mistletoe grows high up in the oak trees, so it's quite a challenge to get it down. Naturally, guys like to shoot it down with guns. <br />It is difficult coming up with a fresh subject every month, especially western historical subjects. It does make me happy to know I wrote something no one has done yet.<br />Thank you for coming, Celia.Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-24734138972219186142017-12-18T20:38:14.227-06:002017-12-18T20:38:14.227-06:00Sarah, that's OK's state plant--or used to...Sarah, that's OK's state plant--or used to be. When I was growing up, kids would raise money for Christmas by climbing trees and getting mistletoe, then cutting off a small sprig of it and putting it in plastic wrap and going door-to-door to sell it for the holidays. Really enjoyed your post. I didn't know the history of it!Cheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-27354316001417405392017-12-18T19:19:00.967-06:002017-12-18T19:19:00.967-06:00Ahh, so that's how the mistletoe became a kiss...Ahh, so that's how the mistletoe became a kissing plant. Very interesting. Mistletoe grow here in Central Texas on the plain old mesquite trees. I will go out tomorrow and see if we have any this year. In past years, I would gather some, tie it up with a red velvet ribbon and hang it on the old oak fence posts...quite pretty.<br />Interesting there are so many stories about how it came to be associated with romance. Thanks! Perfect post for the season, and I don't recall anyone else writing about it. Great photos, too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-8264181611017310542017-12-18T13:27:41.995-06:002017-12-18T13:27:41.995-06:00You planning something devious with that mistletoe...You planning something devious with that mistletoe arrow, Linda? LOL<br />Happy Holidays...and careful with that mistletoe.<br />I appreciate you dropping in to comment. Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-50231797728147522322017-12-18T12:24:03.194-06:002017-12-18T12:24:03.194-06:00Interesting, Sarah. An arrow made of mistletoe. Hm...Interesting, Sarah. An arrow made of mistletoe. Hmm, interesting. Enjoyed your research!Linda LaRoquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672522522233696282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-44719310026759152792017-12-18T11:47:10.137-06:002017-12-18T11:47:10.137-06:00I didn't know how the kissing part happened ei...I didn't know how the kissing part happened either, Caroline, until I decided to research it.<br />Thank you so much for commenting.Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-86110111223121921412017-12-18T09:48:01.925-06:002017-12-18T09:48:01.925-06:00Sarah, very interesting background on kissing unde...Sarah, very interesting background on kissing under the mistletoe. I didn't know how the custom began.Caroline Clemmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.com