Most of the leaves have fallen from the cedar elms in the front yard. I can now see how much the mistletoe has spread since last year. We have three trees along the street and there are heavy accumulations in the two on each side. The big tree in the middle is still fairly clean.

Elm trees and oaks are two kinds of trees that mistletoe infects. Hackberry is a kind of elm and being a very weak short-lived tree in the first place is also especially affected. We used to have a row of old hackberries along the fence line on both sides of us. That’s probably where the mistletoe got its start here. The berries tend to stick to the fur of squirrels. Birds eat them too and spread the seeds.

Tree experts have told me there is not much I can do to prevent the spread of the mistletoe, except to try to cut off the limbs where it grows. It is a parasite and will eventually kill the tree. Most of the limbs though are large and well beyond my reach. In other words about all I can do is slow down its spread.

If I can cut off some nice-sized pieces I will hang them over my door in time for New Year’s. The custom began with the Druids.