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This is not one of my typical stories, but one that is important in its own way. It involves the relationship that developed between me and the black locust that grew in my mother's front yard.
"It's been a blue, blue day, I feel like runnin' away, I feel like runnin' away from it all..." from a song written by Don Williams
If you stood on the top step leading up to the front porch, and if you turned around to look back at where you had been, you would see the first terraced level of the yard. To the left was the mountain stream that trickled its way from its cold source at the top of the mountain the house was built on. In front of you, there was the sidewalk leading down to the second level, and on to the narrow winding road that wove its way on up the holler. But if you looked to the right, you would see the black locust tree, spreading its limbs over the road below it, and over the overhanging roof of the front porch on its other side. I can see it clear as a bell in the early summer, bees buzzing around its drooping white clusters of flowers. And the scent was heavenly.
I had entered my teens, hit high school with a loud splash, and my moods changed direction as often as the wind whistling through the trees. And I was crazy mad in love. I still wandered with Aunt Bett, and I still helped put those white half runners on long threads to hang in the attic to dry. But nothing acted as a deterrent to my love. I must have grown, not so much in size, but in my ways of thinking, and I spent a lot of time in the shade of the black locust, just thinking.
I could hear them talking: "Where's Sharon? I haven't seen or heard her all day." "Oh she's out under that locust, just pining." "She's too young to pine." "Then you better be the one to tell her that, cause she sure don't listen to me." And I would sit there, watching the clouds, just pining away.
The black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, was a great tree to pine under. Actually it was great for a lot of things. It's lower branches had been trimmed to just about my height, but when it was in bloom, the weight of the flowers caused the limbs to droop. I could very nearly hide under it. It was the tree that I used to crawl under and throw pawpaws down on the heads of unsuspecting boys who walked along the road. By the time I entered my teens I didn't throw any more pawpaws, but I would curl up beneath its limbs and read, and think, and dream of all my tomorrows. That really wasn't pining, because I was pretty sure that Billy and I were crazy in love, but I just liked to think about it. So I let them believe what they liked.
Nobody ever came near the locust, because there were places on its bark where fairly large thorns grew. The thorns rendered it unsuitable for climbing. It also had thorns at the base of each leaf, too, so I didn't have to worry about anybody sneaking up on me, while I was under the black locust. I thought of it as my protector. My little brother was only 5 or 6, and he was terrified of the thorns, that could be because I filled his head with thorny monster stories, sweet sister that I was.
The black locust prefers deep, rich, moist soils, but will grow almost anywhere. It ranges from Nova Scotia to Ontario and throughout the United States from Maine to California. It is a deciduous tree, about 60 to 80 feet tall, with a thick, deeply furrowed, dark brown bark and crooked forking branches. Compound feathery leaves 8 to 10 inches long consist of oval leaflets that are a little more than an inch long. A pair of half inch long thorns forms at the base of each leaf. White sweet scented flower clusters that bloom in May through June resemble pea blossoms. In the fall, smooth brown pods contain the poisonous seeds. Those poisonous seeds formed another layer of protection against my brother. I threatened him with them.
Actually, the tree is a member of the pea family. A North American native, the black locust is believed to have originated in the Appalachian Mountains. At one time, American Indians prepared emetics and strong laxatives from the bark; but since the tree contains mildy toxic substances, it was never used very extensively as a medicine. My family never entertained the thought of using it for anything except its beauty and shade, but I was always curious about all plants so my great Aunt Bett explained to me many of the things that I learned about it. It was certainly widely used as a building timber. Locust posts set in the ground will remain sturdy for 50 years, and that led settlers to spread its range, so it is pretty well established in North America. Its seeds went back with explorers in the 17 century, and its growth expanded throughout Europe. It became the most important timber tree in Hungary and Romania, and became a landscape tree for others. The Europeans also experimented with black locust for medicinal purposes, and a tea was made from the flowers and tried for headaches and nausea. Locust blossoms steeped in wine were used to treat anemia.
The black locust is no longer used for medicine, but the hard, very durable wood is made into fence posts, railroad ties, and mine timbers. Because the trees grow quickly, conservationists favor them for erosion control.
Nearing the end of the '50s when I was just entering my teens, the words of songs and the world of music had entered my life. Every song was written for me. Somewhere along the way transistor radios became the new invention for teens, and we could carry our little transistors with us. It was hard to pick up stations in the mountains, but as things often do, music wafted its way from Knoxville, straight up through all those valleys and hillsides, and I could listen to the music of some really great songwriters. One of the greatest was Don Gibson. He was known as the sad poet, and those of us who were in the angst of first love, lapped it up like the sweetest chocolate. He played his songs in a little Knoxville radio station, and on a clear day I could hear him. I remember Patsy Cline singing his "Sweet Dreams", and it instantly became my song. But then in the late '50s when I heard "I Can't Stop Loving You", then that became my song too. When things were not going so well, there was always one of his others available to all who listened, and on those days under the black locust, I sang along with "It's been a blue, blue day, I feel like runnin' away, I feel like runnin' away from it all."
And so it went beneath the black locust, a little privacy, a lotta music, and a very young teenager, crazy in love.
If you search the web for information on the black locust, all sources will tell you the same thing as I have written, and are similar in what they present. The Reader's Digest Association publication of "Magic and Medicine of Plants", 1986, verified more concisely.
I simply googled Don Gibson for date and song title verification. Again many sites told me what I already knew. Mr. Gibson passed away at age 75 in 2003.
All photos are from Plant Files, thanks to these photographers: Melody, Equilibrium, and Linda_nc.
About Sharon Brown
I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I am an artist often doing commissioned work, and in addition to writing articles for Dave's Garden, I also write boating stories for a nautical magazine. My greatest love is gardening, and learning the history of my state and its numerous wildflowers.
Posted by Acemoose (from Arlington, VA) on December 08, 2008 at 12:36 PM:
In the Bronx, on the large grassy lot where we kids played baseball -- it was our Home Plate, and how many times we slid into home plate (it had a very dusty expanse of soil around its base, partly becuz of us kids -- LOL!!) under its green leafy branches.
On warm summer nights, with the full moon rising behind it, I would look out my bedroom window at this majestic tree and pretend that the Elm Tree -- aka "Home Plate" -- was really a Baobab Tree on the African Veldt. But the next day, it morphed back into Home Plate for us kids.
The tree is still there -- 50 years later -- but alas, it is dead. It still stands however, as a mute testament to all the fun us kids had playing baseball under its once-green leafy branches back in the good old days.
...
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 08, 2008 at 12:38 PM:
What a great memory. Isn't it fun how we associate trees with good things. I have several trees in my life, just like that.
Thanks so much for writing, I always enjoy hearing from you.
Sharon
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Posted by Acemoose (from Arlington, VA) on December 12, 2008 at 04:14 PM:
It's nice to know that so many people have never lost the magic of their childhood and still keep it close to their hearts too!!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 12, 2008 at 05:18 PM:
Thanks, Acemoose....it keeps us forever young, don't you think?
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Subject: Your quantum leaps forward.
Posted by gloriag (from Floyd, VA) on December 06, 2008 at 10:25 AM:
Sharon, Your writing has always been excellent, but it gets better all the time. This time it is a quantum leap forward.
I have locust trying to grow by my pond. I want to cut them down because there is no room for them. Are there white locust too?
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 06, 2008 at 01:06 PM:
Hi Gloria,
Thank you for your very nice words.
I am not familiar with a white locust, or even if there is one. My knowledge is pretty limited to what I grew up with, but now that you have tweaked my curiosity, I'll try a little research and let you know.
Again, thank you, your words never fail to bring a smile.
Sharon
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Subject: Reading in UK
Posted by Poppa39 (from Folkestone, United Kingdom) on December 04, 2008 at 12:22 PM:
Hi Sharon it's great to read your stories of your young life. It' so refreshing to hear the story from someone who lived it. Although times were hard a feeling of love and family comes through in your writings. The making of soap is a great story and reminds me of how we in England used to save all the ends of bars and boil them up to make a sort of liquid soap for hand washing. I knew that soap was made from ashes and fat but not how. Is the soap very harsh on the skin?
Keep writing. Have a lovely Christmas. Richard.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 04, 2008 at 01:10 PM:
Hi Richard,
Your comment is a nice surprise, coming as it does from across the water.
In answer to your question, surprisingly, the soap is not harsh at all, and was especially good for treatment of insect bites and other things that happen to little girls who climb mountains, like skinned knees and briar scratches.
I too have saved the ends of soap bars and melted them down. One of the things that growing up during that time did for me, it taught me to be frugal.
Thanks for the picture, it is great to be able to put a face with a name. Oh my, do you live on the coast? One of the things I have always wanted was to live along a coast. Harsh as it might be I have always wanted to be able to walk along a coast. Lucky you.
Thanks also for writing, I enjoyed your note. My article that will run tomorrow contains another recipe, something you might enjoy as well. And yes, I'll keep writing.
Happy Holidays to you, too!
Sharon
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Posted by Poppa39 (from Folkestone, United Kingdom) on January 05, 2009 at 04:55 PM:
Hi again Sharran yes I do live along the coast now at a village called Capel-Le-Ferne in Kent and I previously lived at Harwich in Essex. Unfortunately I have MS and Capel is on a cliff and the only ways to the sea are down steep roads that I can't negotiate on my mobility scooter. My wife Sue is the vicar of Capel and two surrounding villages so I get to a number of social events. Prior to becoming ill I was a househusband doing all the housekeeping and gardening, minor jobs for neighbors etc. Editing the Church magazine and the local Fuchsia fellowship newsletter. I still do the posters and tickets for Sue. Happy New Year.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on January 05, 2009 at 07:20 PM:
Nice to hear from you again. I am very sorry to hear about your health issues, and hope you continue to enjoy the activities you are involved in.
Your description of your area sounds like the very old English novelists that I like so much. The Bronte's in particular come to mind. George Eliot.....same scenario.
Take care and stay warm, and I hope you keep very busy, so that winter and cold and health issues don't get you down.
Thanks for your note. It will be nice to hear from you again.
Sharon
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Posted by Poppa39 (from Folkestone, United Kingdom) on February 10, 2009 at 11:03 AM:
Hi Sharran you may have heard about the heavy snow, by English standards, that have brought the country to a standstill a couple of times this winter.
Well I'm pleased to say that here in Capel we have had very little much to the disappointment of the local school children who have not had a day off like most of the rest of the country. The teachers did take them out on a field study trip to the local countryside to study snow its structure and uses. You know snowmen, snowballs, the effects of snow down your back etc its slipperiness when compressed (slides). I believe its a study in snow science and social interaction. The children thought they would like to repeat the study as they may have missed some of the finer aspects.
We have a small rescue dog called Rolo. He has a pedigree but is a little short in the masculine department, had the snip. He loves to come with me when I go out on my trolley, happily trotting alongside on the lead, or better still in his opinion, riding on the footplate like a little Mutley . I have sent a recent picture of him taken on a rare, very rare, occasion when he was clean.
My main hobbies are my computer and growing Haworthia indoors on the windowsills.
Will write again soon. Richard.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on February 10, 2009 at 12:19 PM:
Hi Richard!
What a great Mutley dog!!!! He sure looks happy, bet he loves having been rescued.
We had an ice storm, major damage, and no electricity for 2 weeks. I have enough logs down all over my yards to build a smalll cabin!! Slowly we are coming out from under all the mess, but it was horrendous. That was the first time I had seen an ice storm or ever snow in years. We don't usually get that much bad stuff!
But then it was in the 70 degree range for the past 4 days, so who knows what it will be tomorrow.
Nice to hear from you again. You take care, and take care of the puppy!
Sharon
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Posted by Poppa39 (from Folkestone, United Kingdom) on May 11, 2009 at 12:50 PM:
Hi Sharon,
Just been reading the Bee story. You say you miss the mountains. I'm sure you must although in some respects it must have been a hard life.
I've been reading about life in Capel in the earlier years and am struck by the similarities to life here and that you describe of your childhood in Kentucky.
Water from wells, unmade roads, primitive one and two room schools and long walks. Outside toilets and the fight to get on main water services. Charabanc rides, (coaches today), to the seaside. The milkmen delivering from handcarts, bread and groceries delivered by horse drawn carts. The pubs at each end of the village would provide fresh horses after the pull up the hills from either Dover or Folkestone. telegraph boys on small motorbikes. I begin to wish I had been raised in such a village as Capel.
I was born (December 1939), in a suburb of London, Southfields South West London County. Southfields was more advanced than Capel and had running water, mains sewage and electricity etc, although some buildings even in central London still had gas lighting in 1960 and communal water supplies and toilets.
I still remember the refuse collection was by horse drawn dustcart. The cart was drawn by a horse until it was full then the horse would be uncoupled along with the dustman's box seat. A lorry with ramps would arrive, off load an empty dust cart and haul the full dustcart onto the back to the dump. As a small boy this was considered great fun to watch. Another great game was when the lorry came to deliver ice to the local fish shop after begging for pieces to suck my sister and I would sometimes hang onto the tail board of the lorry as it started up. On only one occasion June held on too long and a man in in a car had to chase after the lorry and get it to stop.
You have probably heard of the "Wombles of Wimbledon Common" children's programme. Well Wimbledon Common was very close to where I lived so I spent much of my childhood there, tree climbing, tiddlering, (pond dipping) chasing grasshoppers and butterflies etc. All things forbidden these days either in the name of Health and Safety or Conservation.
Best wishes Richard.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 11, 2009 at 01:10 PM:
I had not heard from you in such a long time, I was beginning to get a little concerned. So glad you are still there, Richard.
I love reading about those days, but we can never go back, can we? And I guess in the name of Health and Safety and/or conservation, that is best. Population explosion comes to mind, and easier travel, longer reaches....all these growths make precautions necessary.
I like your stories, yes, there are similarities to my youth. Important, though, that we take what we learned and let it underscore our existence today.
New growth has sprouted from all the trees that were damaged in our late winter ice storm, and those young trees that were bent and frozen to the ground are alive and well. Nice to know that nature renews herself. All is green here, and lots of blooms that I thought I might never to see again.
I hope you are well, thank you for sharing your memories, lots of parallels to mine. Our memories are a great way to preserve history for those who came after us.
Be well, Richard. Best wishes to you and your family.
Sharon
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Subject: Good Story
Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on December 02, 2008 at 06:21 PM:
I renmber those days It was not just Girls who went tho those things But may be it was Harder tho for Girls. ive not lost my respect For Women Paul
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 06:37 PM:
Great to hear that, Paul!!
Thank you for the comment and for your much appreciated insight.
Nice as always to hear from you.
Sharon
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Subject: black locust
Posted by leeflea51 (from Golden, MS) on December 02, 2008 at 03:14 PM:
Sharran, thanks for your article on the black locust. We have one in the back yard, near the woods and I wouldn't take anything for it. The bumblebees love the flowers and we love the shade. Lee
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 03:44 PM:
Lee, thank you...I love them too, but don't have one of my own anymore. I sure wish I did.
Glad you liked the story, thank you for letting me know. I hope you are enjoying my sunshine today.
Sharon
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Posted by leeflea51 (from Golden, MS) on December 02, 2008 at 03:49 PM:
Sharran, what a lovely surprise, your responding to my comment. Owen, the friend with whom I live, wanted to cut it down a few years ago but I said no. He was born and reared on a farm and he had said that they used them for fence post, too. It was one of the trees he hated working with because of the thorns.
Where I was born and reared in MS, we had alot of Bois d'Arc, but we just called them 'Bow docks'. Now, they had thorns!
Again, how kind of you to take the time to respond and I look forward to more of your articles. Lee
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 04:30 PM:
Thanks Lee, you keep writing and I will for sure respond!
Glad Owen didn't cut your tree down, I would have cried.
Sharon
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Posted by Kelli (from Los Angeles (Canoga , CA) on December 02, 2008 at 04:55 PM:
The first time I saw a locust tree bloom, I was a kid or young teen. I was just astounded that a wild plant could bloom so spectacularly. In the same way, I was impressed with wild daylilies. They both had to be the glory of western PA.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 05:26 PM:
Hi Kelli...I think wild plants are astounding wherever we find them. Unadulterated beauty.
I am sure you find that kind of beauty where you are now also, but old memories are hard to beat.
Hope you have this same glorious sunshine out your way today.
Sharon
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Posted by wvgardendeva (from Berkeley Springs, WV) on December 08, 2008 at 11:55 AM:
We have many, many black locusts here in the eastern panhandle of WV. Last spring they were absolutely spectacular when they bloomed. I have never seen so many blossoms on them before.
A friend tells me that the honey resulting from bees visiting black locusts is very amazing in color and taste. I intend to get started with bee-keeping this spring, so maybe I will be able to experience that first-hand.
Also, many black locusts here die young and when they do they make great firewood.
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Posted by NuSu (from Lewisville, TX) on December 08, 2008 at 12:41 PM:
Sharon,
Thanks for your article. I love plants and trees in particular - even though my thumb is not as green as I'd like it to be.
I have a question. A black locust seed wandered into my parent's backyard spring a year ago. We live in the Dallas area. It germinated in a pot I had sitting around and a little tree emerged in my "shade container garden" area of the yard (on the side of the house).
I noticed that it did not look like a regular weed so I dediced to leave it alone and see what it would become. By last winter, it was about 10-12 inches tall. I decided to put it with my other plants and wrapped them up against the winter. Since I love trees so much, my folks were a little suspicious that I had gotten it deliberately.
Not only did it survive the winter but, to my delight, it "took off" in the spring. I put it in a larger pot and decided to identify it.
After reading your article and how large the trees become... will it continue to grow in a container or is that cruel? I had thought it might grow to 10 or 20 feet. Not the height you mentioned in your article. My folks do not want any more trees in their yard - let alone a giant in the making. I on the other hand want to keep it and raise it - if it could happily remain in a pot (even a large one). But if it's only future is to die in the container because I cannot put it into the ground, should I get rid of it now? I don't know anyone in the area who would want the little tree (have not lived here very long)
Please advise the best thing to do. As I said, I love trees and killing one would make me very very unhappy.
Thanks,
Sue
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 08, 2008 at 12:49 PM:
Eva, I hadn't thought about the honey, but now I wonder if it can be found commercially. Will have to check on that, thanks for mentioning it, and thanks for writing.
OH, Sue.....
What a dilemma! You are talking to someone who has a hard time pulling all those gazillion helicopter seedlings that sprout on every surface, gifts from my maples.
Well, the tree will grow in a container as long as the container keeps increasing in size. Not sure when it gets beyond the size of your container. I doubt if it will flower very much, perhaps a little while young, but I am no expert in potting large trees, so I can't give you much of an answer. I don't know how well it would take to becoming "bonsai", but if I were you and that was my only option, I'd do it and see.
Good luck and let me know how it does. Most of the time, trees adapt. Maybe sometime you can find a real home for it.
Thanks for writing, I enjoy hearing from you.
Sharon
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Subject: Everyone Needs Their Tree
Posted by dahlianut (from Calgary, AB) on December 02, 2008 at 01:48 PM:
I still have a tree; a big ole 40 foot green ash with gnarly bark. I did put an Alice-in-Wonderland bench under it for a little more comfort rather than sitting on the ground but I dream and scheme and pine for/covet under my tree. Today it is about plants rather than my true luv as it was under an elm when I was a seedling. I think everyone should have a tree for this purpose.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 02:48 PM:
Ahhhh, what a great thing you are doing. Yes, I still sit under my oldest maple even now, and on a bench, and pine......wonder what else I can cram into this garden, wonder if I can move again once I make the attempt.....
Wonder, wonder. And isn't it fun!
Thanks for writing!
Sharon
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Subject: I had a cottonwood tree...
Posted by BennysPlace (from Tucson, AZ) on December 02, 2008 at 12:24 PM:
Hi Sharon,
Lovely article as usual. I too had a thinking tree. I think all kids do at one time or another. Reading your story brought back some wonderful memories. I grew up in rural Wyoming and my "yard" was acres and acres of ranch land. I had permission to roam the land at will and I would often follow the creek to the area where the trees were and that's when I found a beautiful cottonwood tree. I was able to get myself up pretty high and once in my resting spot I would just sit, think and contemplate the years ahead of me. Oh the dreams, aspirations and plans I had while sitting in that tree. I had a backpack and in it was a packed meal, books and everything. When I wasn't off searching for arrow heads or remnants of early settlements in the valley, this is where I was -- in my tree. I don't make it back there much any more. The last time was 2003. That tree is still there.
Thank you Sharon.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 12:35 PM:
What a beautiful memory, Benny. Cottonwoods are great, and have you listened to them? They tell a beautiful story when the wind whispers through them.
Your growing up years sound much like mine, you had acres and acres and I had hills and valleys for back yards. And of course those trees still stand, and will continue to for longer than we do, I think.
Thank you for writing, I enjoy hearing about your experiences. Nice memories.
It is always a pleasure to hear from you.
Sharon
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Subject: Soul sister
Posted by Hemophobic (from Kannapolis, NC) on December 02, 2008 at 08:47 AM:
Sharon: your article brought back memories of those heartaching days of unrequited teenage love, which is one thing I wouldn't relive for anything in the world! I guess in those days we all had our little "hidey holes," which was anywhere away from adults with a good book and no brothers, sisters or cousins to pester us!
BTW, I remember when women were first allowed (at least in the South) to start wearing pantsuits to work instead of dresses or skirts. Remember? Oh, my goodness, what a breakthrough that was. Even as a child, the only time we could wear jeans to school was when it snowed and we had to walk to school in the snow, so I wore blue jeans under my dress to school, took them off once I got there and put them back on for the trip home. Today's women have no idea how far we've come, but not all of it has been progress. Somewhere along the line we lost the respect once afforded women and we did that to ourselves, methinks.
Didn't mean to ramble here, but your articles always stir other memories to life for me. Excellent, as usual.
Angie
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Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on December 02, 2008 at 09:37 AM:
I second what Angie said. Thanks for another terrific, atmospheric story.
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Posted by Indynannyof8 (from Brownstown, IN) on December 02, 2008 at 10:10 AM:
Amen Sistas
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 12:20 PM:
Ladies, you always make me smile!
I do remember wearing jeans under my dresses. And they had to be dresses, not skirts, unless I wore those danged suspenders to hold them up. Or maybe jumpers. Sometimes it was corduroys, not jeans.....and that little tidbit will appear in an article, you can be sure.
Thank you for writing, and for reading the article. It is fun to wonder as I write, and I always wonder who will have the same memories. You all make writing fun.
I hope you all have some of my sunshine in your day.
Sharon
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Posted by roseone33 (from Southern Mountains, GA) on December 02, 2008 at 05:41 PM:
I also loved your story. Although I didn't grow up in the south, there were lots of locust trees in the woods behind my house. And I also grew up in the era when females didn't wear "pants", slacks either. We had some for playing in the yard and leggings for the snow. Even in college, it was forbidden to wear pants anywhere on campus. If we were going to PE, we were allowed to wear our gym jumpers only with a raincoat over them. Young women today can't imagine how different it really was. I can be nostalgic for skirts, I rarely wear one, but I don't want to go back to other aspects of the "good old days". Women are still struggling for equal pay for equal work and not to be judged by their appearance. I doubt the latter will ever change.
Thanks Sharran for another wonderful story. I look forward and enjoy all your articles. They are very similar to the stories I have heard from the old timey mountain people in this area.
Keep them coming!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 05:58 PM:
Thanks, Roseone,
Yes...I do remember the raincoats in college, too!!! And heaven help us if we got caught with shorts on under that raincoat!
Thanks for another memory....one thought just leads to another doesn't it?
And thanks for commenting on the stories. I love writing them.
Sharon
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 02, 2008 at 08:15 PM:
Beautiful story written beautifully.
I too, had my trees. I made a little home under a circle of pine trees. The fallen needles were my carpet as I read many books.
I did not know that the posts from locust last 50 years; you have taught me something new again. Do termites not bother them?
I don't wear dresses much anymore...too stupid many required skirts and dresses when I was growing. Our church required no pants or shorts for woman but dad and mom said it was better to wear pants than to show it all. So, if we were at home, pants were fine.
Some old school Accounting firms still want women to wear dresses. How ignorant is that? Can we do better Accounting in a dress? The firm where I work changed that requirement just 2 years ago.
On a totally side note on this thread:
Funny, in some fields woman receive equal pay for less work. My DH worked in a shop 10 years ago where the woman wanted (and received) the same pay but complained about how heavy the machinery parts were and asked the men to carry the parts around for them so the men couldn't get their own work done as quickly. Many women (me included) don't want to be judged by their appearance but we women have to overcome the sabatoge woman that dress to expose their body because they lust to be lusted after. About 23 years ago, a woman came to a job interview (she thought it would be with the owner of the company) her white shirt open way too far, exposing herself. Little did she know, her interview was with a 22 year old female who was not impressed that a woman owned such things. She did not buy a job that day.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 02, 2008 at 10:55 PM:
Funny story there at the end, sad but true.
Policies change with the times, some good some not so good. I guess we'll never have it just exactly right.
I was looking through my paperwork, and realize that I have done a bunch of articles about trees. Interesting how big a part they played in my life. For many others too, it seems. And yes, I know all about the needles under the pines, too.
I have not researched termites in locust posts, but don't seem to remember that there were any when I was growing up with locust posts all over our place. Our house was built in 1921, and the outbuildings soon thereafter, including a shed type thing that became a carport when I was very small. The posts for the shed were of locust, and they are still standing today. I can't remember if some of the fence posts are still there or not, but I do know that there were railroad ties made from locust in the area. Might be something to look into. I didn't think of termites when I was writing the article.
Thanks for writing, always so nice to hear from you.
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on December 04, 2008 at 01:19 AM:
Sharon,
Thanks...
Very interesting. I'll have to mention that to DH. I'd rather have black locust posts than treated lumber.
