Monday, November 26, 2007

Must be Mistletoe

"From the centre of the ceiling of this kitchen, old Wardle had just suspended with his own hands a huge branch of mistletoe, and this same branch of mistletoe instantaneously gave rise to a scene of general and most delightful struggling and confusion; in the midst of which, Mr. Pickwick, with a gallantry that would have done honour to a descendant of Lady Tollimglower herself, took the old lady by the hand, led her beneath the mystic branch, and saluted her in all courtesy and decorum."
--
The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
After the leaves fell from our maple tree, a clump was left near the top. I have decided it must be mistletoe.

Mistletoe, a parasitic plant that is toxic to humans but provides nutrition for birds, butterflies and some mammals, is traditionally used at Christmas above a doorway so that anyone caught standing under it might get kissed.

4 comments:

Isadora said...

:) It is! Who do you know with a saw on a stick (they do have them) who could cut it down for you for your very own Christmas decor. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.

Steve Buser said...

Surely, as Santa has ever lived, it is mistletoe.
--steve buser
New Orleans Daily Photo

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi Selma,
I never saw a mistletoe in reall but know the story (be kissed under that tree) from TV, hahaha Now you showed his on your blog thanks I learned again something:)

smilnsigh said...

Amazing!

I've never seen it for real, either.

From a distance, it might be thought of as an abandoned bird's nest...

Mari-Nanci