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If Trees Could Talk

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Contributed by: Beverly McClure on 11/24/2008

In our pasture stands an ancient mesquite tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like welcoming arms to the birds that have nested in its boughs and to the rabbits and armadillos that have dug burrows beneath its trunk. We estimate the tree to be close to one-hundred years old, if not older. It once stood beside a wooden barn and a corral. An old homestead, the original owners unknown, housed a family, with children, perhaps, who climbed the mesquite or swung on a tire, hanging from its branches.

Only the tree knows. If it could talk, imagine the tales it could tell.

The mesquite has seen fire, lightning strikes, and strong winds. Still it stands, tall and proud. The mesquite is not simply a tree; it provides many benefits for man and animals. Bees produce honey from the flowers. The bean pods can be made into flour and mixed with other flour to bake bread. We've seen our horses eat the bean pods. Cattle like to munch on the beans too. The leaves can be used as medicine.

The wood makes beautiful furniture. It also burns very hot and slow in the fireplace. And who can resist mesquite barbecue brushed on chicken or steak? Cowboys on the King Ranch in South Texas used mesquite fires to heat their branding irons as well as for cooking.

Not everyone likes the mesquite, however. Ranchers consider the trees a nuisance since they compete with grasslands for moisture. Their taproot (one tree's taproot measured 190 feet long) takes water from the water table. The trees also use ground water. And the sharp thorns from a tree branch can cause a tractor tire to go flat.

Roughly 56 milion acres of Texas land are covered by 7 varities of mesquite. You can learn more about this unique tree at www.Wikipedia.com or at http://www.texasalmanac.com/health/mesquite-tree.html.

I like mequites. Their roots go deep; they're hardy, and tolerate most any crisis. They've been around for a long time and have seen many changes in their world. If only trees could talk, what would they say to us?

Sources:
www.wikipedia.com
www.texasalmanac.com
Personal observation of the trees on our land

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Submitted By: Pamela Dixon

posted on 1/14/2009 @ 10:29:45 PM

Rated Story

I just wrote a poem about trees, and couldn't help but mention how the mighty mesquete is the tree that supply's us with misletoe each year!

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Submitted By: Ann Weyant

posted on 11/26/2008 @ 10:09:49 PM

Rated Story

"Their roots go deep; they're hardy, and tolerate most any crisis.".....that reminds me of the early pioneers, in a new land, planting their roots firmly in the soil. They had to be hardy to survive. ......That's a mighty big tree, Beverly! I enjoyed your story..... Ann

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Beverly McClure

Iowa Park , TX

Beverly McClure has posted 44 stories and 221 comments since joining on 9/17/2006. Beverly McClure 's average story rating is 4.93.

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