Cats Claw. It's a low growing spreading tree that is in abundance in the washes. Big clumps of mistletoe berries grow on these trees. They are pretty and look good to eat. I tried one, one day and it tasted ok but then I spit it out. Later I was roundly scolded by my Yahoo group, 'Forage Ahead' about wild edible plants. Many people die every year from mistletoe poisoning. I watched for symptoms and gratefully had none. Ask before you eat. These berries are a parasite that eventually kill the trees but they provide food for many birds. It creates a cycle of life that is part of the eco system. The acacia is a low growing spreading tree that often has hollow spaces under them that look like little tents. I actually have one tree like that where I have trimmed out some of the lower branches and actually have a little room where I have a chair. It's the child in me. I am going to set up a bonfire in the sandy area in front of the tree and have a campground. In the Spring the acacia has a furry yellow blossom that the bees and moths love. I was awe struck the first time I saw the moths. Their wings never stop and they dart at the flowers like minature hummingbirds. I actually thought they were a small hummingbird when I first saw them . They are a beautiful sight.Mistletoe growing on Cats Claw.
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5 comments:
What an unusual tree! I'm learning so much from your posts, and I love the pictures.
I hope to not make a nuisance of myself, but after reading the many entries in this blog as well as "Simple life:Talking to myself", you often mention your favorite thrift store and the many good bargains you get there. I live in Louisiana, and used to travel at least once a year to what is apparently your area of Arizona, give or take 500 miles (ha), before the care of my aging parents put my travels on hold. Should I get back to Arizona in the future, I'd love to go to that thrift store, it sounds like my kind of place! Yep, it's one of my weaknesses, along with my love of animals. I, like your daughter, have cats, five at this time. I had to laugh after reading your post on "one of the other" of your blogs, my mama said the same thing to me-"you'll have to build a room just for the cats". My daughter was kind enough to take two of my mama cats' litter, and now she has five, too! Without revealing too much about your home location, could I ask for the street name and town that the thrift store is located in? If you choose not to post that information, I most certainly understand your reasons why. Thank you so much...
The thrift store is in Kingman Arizona. It is on Airway off of Stockton Hill Rd. Turn by the Smith's grocery and go past the Walmart turn in about 1/2 block. The yard is open every day after 12. noon. I'm more than happy for your comments and a little insight into your life. Cats are like people. I would have an indoor cat if my dog would allow it. My daughter gave me two cats and I had them both altered. They live in the garage. Last Spring a cat came into the garage from somewhere and had two kittens. She was a beautiful cat and the kittens are pretty but not tame. I'm sure the population will go up.
Sorry for the double post. I thought it didn't post so rewrote it and tried again. Now I'll have to figure out how to delete one post.
Appreciate the directions to that thrift store, Anna! I'm holding on to the hope that maybe I can get out there before too long. I read you post on your other blog, and I, like my mama, know exactly how you feel about feeling you'd like to get even more isolated if possible! We both love that area of Az., and we are heartbroken that they are allowing subdivisions and such to go up in one of the few places where we could get out in the desert, and be somewhat alone. The last time I was out there, I was shocked that they are literally fencing off the desert! I can understand them doing it for safety reasons, but it still breaks my heart. One of my favorite memories, with my mama and daddy, is sleeping in our van campers under a yucca tree, in the desert by Dolan Springs ( where Stockton Hill road ran into the road from Dolan Springs, it was gravel at that time, it may still be). We'd sit outside at night, totally amazed at the stars, the quiet and the wildlife. Never gave it a thought that we'd be bothered. We just slept with one ear listening. haha.. I slept better out in the "wilderness" than I ever have here where I live now. My dad and I would walk for hours in the desert, and enjoyed every minute of it. There used to be a rest area right before you got to Hoover Dam, (going up from Kingman), and we spent many a night there too, but they had closed it down when my husband and myself went that way a few years ago. Enjoy that desert while you have the freedonm to do so! Thank you again for the information, and keep this blog going, we enjoy it so much.
How interseting, you know this area then. When I first came to Arizona a purchased a piece of property out of the little town of Yucca off I -40. It's about 8 miles up Alamo and then off another road. I got it for $50 down and %50 a month. I had planned on retiring there in my motorhome. These lots are interspersed with BLM. I would go camp there and it was so quiet! and the stars were just wonderful.I too would hike for hours just loving it. I could stay a whole week and not even see a car. Now I have 10 neighbors within a1/2 mile of that property. Because they are mostly single men and some have drinking problems I haven't been up for over a year. They started bringing an oriental tour bus up every Sunday to sell lots and now a huge development is going in up there. The same way with Dolan Springs, some big developments going in there too. Property has gone way up. A huge 25,000 development is going in, in the white mountain area as a bedroom community for Las Vegas. I will be taking some pictures of the developments and posting them, later. let me know when you are in the area. I have a friend who parks in Chloride during the summer and it still is a pleasant little town with no big developments yet.
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