MISTLETOE-CUSTOM DATES BACK TO 17th CENTURY

In Focus – By CR Brown

For all the romantics out there, opportunities abound for stealing a kiss from that special someone during the upcoming Holiday Season if this year’s growth of mistletoe is any indication. A leisurely drive through South-central Alabama will highlight the fact that mistletoe is alive and thriving in the Wiregrass.

The tree pictured above is infested with mistletoe and is located on Highway 29 north midway between Heath and Gantt Dam.

If you intend to harvest a bit of mistletoe for the Christmas Season, a casual walk in most any direction will put you well within range of Phoradendron leucarpum, which is Greek for “thief of the tree.” That is an apt description, since mistletoe is considered to be parasitic and is unable to survive and grow on its own. Instead, it requires a host tree from which to steal all of its nutrients; oaks, elms, poplars and apple trees, to name a few, serve that purpose well. Mistletoe has also been known to flourish in Pecan trees.

Mistletoe reproduces when a seed finds its way to a good host prospect. Upon sprouting, it attaches a bell-shaped root structure that grows into the tree, robbing it of its nutrients. Because it sometimes drains the host tree of its life juices, it occasionally is referred to as the “Vampire plant.”

While insects and bees pollinate mistletoe, birds actually disperse the seeds by eating mature fruits which are difficult to digest. Some unharmed seeds that pass through the bird’s digestive tract often end up lodged in crevices where they attach to the host tree.

Meanwhile, mistletoe berries usually ripen by November, changing from green to translucent or to a pearly white color. And, to be on the safe side, it would be wise to keep the ripening fruit out of reach of young children and pets since it can be poisonous if ingested.

The custom of kissing beneath a sprig or branch of mistletoe dates back several hundreds of years, by some accounts even to the 17th century and earlier. The act of stealing a kiss was never meant to get out of hand, of course, but often did. However, to prevent abuses of the custom, when a man stole a kiss under a hanging branch, a berry was pinched off and thrown away. When all the berries had been pinched off, the magic of the mistletoe was considered to be all used up.

It was also believed that mistletoe, when hung in the home, signified romance, happiness and even peace. In fact, it was the custom of the times for warring enemies to drop their weapons and embrace if a chance meeting should occur beneath the plant.

AMATEUR BOTANIST BROUGHT THEM TO THE U.S.

In Focus - by CR Brown


Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas at all…without Poinsettias.

And we have Joel Roberts Poinsett, amateur botanist and first United States Ambassador to Mexico, to thank for introducing the plant to this country in 1825. The Ambassador, who was appointed to his post by John Quincy Adams, became fascinated with the plant that the Aztecs called “Cuetlaxochit.”

In fact, Montezuma, the last of the Aztec Kings, had poinsettias delivered by caravan to what is now called Mexico City, since they would not grow at the higher altitudes. From the 14th through the 16th centuries, the Aztecs used the sap to control fever and the bracts (leaves) were used to make red dye.

Meanwhile, the legend of the poinsettia dates back to a Christmas Eve several centuries ago when a little peasant girl by the name of Pepita had no gift to present to the Christ Child, as was the custom at that time. At the urging of her cousin Pedro to present a humble gift, she stopped along the road and gathered some weeds. Miraculously, as Pepita approached the alter with the weeds, they blossomed into brilliant red flowers. They were given the name Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night. They are, of course, known today as poinsettias.

Many believe the poinsettia plant to be poisonous to humans and pets, but that is not the case according to researchers at Ohio State University. Their scientific conclusion was that a typical child would have to “consume 500-600 leaves in order to exceed the experimental doses that found no toxicity.” However, as with any non-food product not intended for consumption, it should be kept out of reach of curious young children and pets.

The poinsettias pictured above were found at Howell’s Nursery & Landscaping, which is located on Highway 29 north of Andalusia, Alabama. According to co-owner Kim Pebworth, upwards to 750 plants will be sold during this Holiday Season through their business alone. However, that number pales by comparison to the number sold by the Ecke Family of southern California. They have grown tens of thousands of poinsettias annually in recent years for landscape and cut flower use, making them by far the leading producer in the US.

Upon the death of Poinsett in 1851, December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day to honor the man and the plant that he made famous.

MEMORIAL INCLUDES TRIBUTE TO MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER

In Focus – By CR Brown

Veteran’s day has come and gone. Wednesday’s parade down East 3 Notch Street, ending at the Veterans’ Memorial drew hundreds who wanted to pay tribute to all those soldiers from Covington County who have served in the military and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country. In fact, beginning with World War I and ending with Desert Storm, 179 of America’s finest from the local area perished in no less than six different conflicts. World War II claimed the highest toll with 109 killed in action and another 16 held as prisoner of war.

Though all 179 are heroes by all accounts, one particular soldier’s story is the kind of experience from which legends are made. His story can be found on the monument pictured above at the Veteran’s Memorial Park located just behind Andalusia City Hall. It is the story of Rodney J. Evans, the only Covington County recipient (posthumously awarded) of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Rodney J. Evans was a sergeant in the U.S. Army, Company D. First Battalion, 12th Calvary, 1st Cavalry Division. He became a casualty of war on 18 July 1969 in the Tay Ninh Province of the Republic of Vietnam. His was not just a soldier’s death, but a hero’s death – one that brought the highest honor that his country could bestow upon him.

The inscription on the monument reads.

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Evans distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as squad leader in a reconnaissance sweep through heavy vegetation to reconnoiter a strong enemy position. As the force approached a well defined trail, the platoon scout warned that the trail was booby-trapped. Sgt. Evans led his squad on a route parallel to the trail. The force had started to move forward when a nearby squad was hit by the blast of a concealed mine. Looking to his right Sgt. Evans saw a second enemy device. With complete disregard for his safety he shouted a warning to his men, dived to the ground and crawled toward the mine. Just as he reached it an enemy soldier detonated the explosive and Sgt. Evans absorbed the full impact with his body. His gallant and selfless action saved his comrades from probable death or injury and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. Sgt. Evans’ gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the U.S. Army.”

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military award for bravery. Only 3448 medals have been awarded since it was created in 1863.

GARDEN SPIDERS COMMON TO ALABAMA

In Focus – By CR Brown

Imagine walking along a wooded path when suddenly you come face-to-face with the critter pictured above. That critter is Argiope aurantia, otherwise known as the Black and Yellow Garden Spider or Corn Spider. It is also known as the Banana Spider or Writing Spider in some circles. Here in the Wiregrass (south-central Alabama), the folks simply refer to it as a harmless Garden Spider. This particular species is common to most areas of North and Central America. The typical male ranges in size from 5 to 9 mm, while the female is much larger at 19 to 28 mm. Some can be larger still.

Look for Garden Spiders to build a circular web 24 inches in diameter anywhere from two feet to eight feet off the ground. The web will usually be located near an open area, where it will likely have access to sunlight throughout a good part of the day. Once the web is constructed, the female will rarely move to another location during her lifetime.

The first step in the construction of the web consists of strategically placing four or five anchor lines that are attached to points three or more feet apart. Those anchor lines intersect, forming the center of the soon-to-be-constructed 24-inch circular web. At the heart of the web is a dense zigzag of silk called stabilimentum measuring approximately 1 inch by 4 inches. The stabilimentum acts as camouflage for the host spider but also as a warning device to birds winging their way through wooded areas.

Hanging head-down in the web, the female Garden Spider waits for unsuspecting prey to become entangled in her handywork. If she feels threatened, she may drop to the ground where she can hide until the danger passes.

Amazingly, the female spider purposely rebuilds her inner web on a daily basis. She consumes the silk lines making up the inner web every evening and then rebuilds in the early morning. It is believed that tiny insects and other nutrients too small to see with the naked eye are captured in the webbing, which provides the spider a steady dietary source.

Garden Spiders bring fourth their young only once yearly. After seaching out a prospective female, the male spider will build a small web next to his mate to be. He will then court the female by plucking the taunght web strands much like a guitar. However, he remains vigilant while approaching the female, keeping a safety drop-line at the ready, just in case the female goes on the attack. The male dies shortly after mating at which time he is often eaten by the female.

After placing her eggs in sacks, usually numbering 1-4, the female Garden Spider becomes more frail as the weather turns cold and will die on the arrival of the first frost.
The egg sacs will hatch when spring arrives, releasing potentially thousands of spiderlings. Most of those will remain in the local area, while others will deploy a single strand of silk that will act as a wind sail, carrying them to other areas.

The female Garden Spider pictured above resides above a walking trail in Heath, Alabama.

Halloween is No. 2 in holiday sales

In Focus – By CR Brown


Did you know that Halloween is the second most commercialized holiday in America, or that its origin dates back to an old Celtic custom over 2000 years ago?

Here are a few more snippets of information you might not know. Halloween was then called “Samhain” – the day marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the eve of the New Year, the world of the living and the world of the dead became blurred, causing spirits to roam freely with the living. The Celts were convinced that spirits would somehow return to destroy crops and to seek refuge in living bodies, so they paraded around in costumes while making lots of noise in an effort to confuse the spirits from distinguishing between the living and the dead.

The Romans got into the act in 43 A.D. when “Samhain” was combined with two other festivals, Feralia and Pomona. Feralia bestowed honor on the dead, while Pomona, goddess of fruit and trees, was honored during harvest time. Since Pomona’s symbol was the apple, speculation is that the tradition of bobbing for apples can be laid at her feet.

As the Roman Empire faded from the cultural scene, so did “Samhain”. By the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV wanted to replace pagan festivals, so he called it All Saint’s Day, or All-Hallows. The celebration the night before then became known as All-Hallows’ Eve. The name evolved to Hallow Evening and then to Halloween.

Meanwhile, trick-or-treating began as a custom in ninth century England at which time it was referred to as “going souling.” On that one day every year, Christians would go begging for soul cakes, with the donors believing that they were helping dead relatives. Both parties seemed to benefit from the practice.

The history of Jack-o-lanterns is a bit more complex. There once was an Irishman named Jack who was known for his trickery and drunkenness. It seems Jack tricked Satan into climbing a tree, whereupon Jack carved a cross in the tree, trapping Satan. Through lengthy negotiations, Jack let Satan go. But, Satan struck the last blow by denying Jack entrance into Heaven or Hell. Jack placed a glowing ember, given to him by Satan, in a carved turnip to help light his way in his darkened world that followed. The carved turnips became known as “jack’s lantern.” Since Irish immigrants found pumpkins to be much more plentiful in America, turnip carving eventually gave way to the pumpkin.

Now, fast forward to the last two centuries. Halloween made the jump to America via Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine in the 1840’s. Later, in the century, a movement was started to separate scary costumes from all Halloween celebrations, and by the 1900’s, most people had forgotten the superstitious and religious aspects of the holiday. Since then, and continuing into today’s culture, Halloween is simply viewed as an inexpensive way for communities across America to celebrate the harvest season.

The Halloween scene pictured above is located in Pike County, Alabama just north of Goshen.

DAM'S HISTORY DATES BACK TO 1899

Gantt Dam, pictured above and located six miles north of Andalusia in Covington County, shapes a lake encompassing approximately 2,700 surface acres. To better understand the history of Gantt Dam, one has to travel back to 1899 and take a look at the early days of the town of Gantt, which was originally established one mile east of its present location. At that time it was known as Hamptonville. With the arrival of the railroad in 1899 it was moved to the present location to take advantage of the established rail line. Meanwhile, when the town relocated, it was briefly renamed Christine, after a “very pretty” school teacher by historical accounts. In fact, the very first rail schedule published by Old Central of Georgia Railroad referred to the town as Christine. However, after the school teacher moved from the area, the town was renamed again, this time after Hiram Gantt, patriarch of the Gantt family. Shortly thereafter, Hiram’s son, Beaury Gantt, who was in need of a means of floating logs down the river to his sawmill, built the first dam across the Conecuh River. And, thus the history of the dam had its beginning. In 1920 the Horseshoe Lumber Company built the first hydroelectric plant at the site of a former gristmill at the location and commenced selling electricity in 1922. Point ‘A’ Dam and Power Plant was added in 1926. Point ‘A’ was so named because it was designated as the best site on the Conecuh River for potential hydroelectric power. Both dams failed in March of 1929 when a tropical depression moved through the area dumping record rainfalls. Hurricane Opal threatened, but did not deliver, the same fate in 1995.

Meanwhile, the Alabama Electric Cooperative (AEC) officially began generation and transmission operations in September of 1944 when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released a ruling that directed Alabama Water Service Company (AWSC), owners of Gantt Dam at the time, to divest its electric generation and water properties. The ruling allowed AEC to acquire a string of small electric generating facilities (ice plants, saw mills, etc) in a number of local communities that were incorporated in the electrical grid. Gantt Dam was one of those acquired in the deal.

Though the dam has little value today in the overall scheme of AEC’s generating capacity, the impact that it has on local economic and environmental issues remains high.

In 2006, the water level in Gantt Lake was lowered approximately five feet to allow homeowners a chance to make necessary repairs on waterfront properties. Required maintenance was also completed on the dam in December of the same year, after which the lake was restored to its previous level.

COCOON OR HUMMINGBIRD NEST?

At first glance one might assume the above pictured item is a hummingbird nest. That turns out not be the case, however.

In fact, it is not a nest at all; it is a cocoon left behind by a member of the silkworm moth family. This cocoon was found clinging to a branch of a young Oak tree in the community of Heath. The body measures barely 1.5 inches in length, having a girth comparable to that of the index finger. A connecting strap anchors the cocoon in place. The opening through which the adult moth is introduced to the world is just wide enough to accommodate an English pea.

All silkworm moths go through four stages in their life cycle – egg, larva (caterpillar in this case), pupa and adult.

Because there are 300 different species in the Bombycidae family of moths, giving credit for the handiwork pictured above is somewhat difficult. However, one of three moth species is likely to have called this cocoon home for a short while – Cecropia, Polyphemus or Promethea, all of which populate this part of the south. All three are large moths having wingspans in the range of five or six inches and have been known to spin this type of cocoon during the caterpillar stage as it readies for winter.

Amazingly, the average cocoon is formed when a caterpillar wraps itself in a silk thread that if stretched continuously could reach nearly two miles in length. The process to build the cocoon can take upwards to a week to complete. Once secured inside the protective silk, the caterpillar enters the pupa stage until early spring. At that time it will exit its winter home as a mature adult moth.

The hole in the top of the cocoon is created when the adult moth secretes an enzyme that dissolves the bonding material used to hold the silk thread in place, allowing an escape path. Unfortunately for the moth, its escape procedure renders the silk threads useless for commercial application.

To prevent the moth from damaging the threads during exit, Commercial Chinese silk farmers simply pre-empt the process by submerging the cocoons in boiling water just before the silkworm makes its escape. That process serves two purposes; first, it kills the prisoner moth before it has a chance to do damage to the cocoon, and, secondly, it melts away the bonding saliva, allowing the silk thread’s extraordinary length to remain intact. It is then harvested, being rolled onto spindles. Many strands will then be braided together to make a thread suitable for weaving into fabric as we know it.
Meanwhile, the best time to catch a glimpse of a silkworm moth the likes of Cecropia, Polyphemus or Promethea is during evening hours in the vicinity of a bright light source.