Mistletoe and sycamore ring in winterWritten by George Ellison
Each season has characteristic features that signal its arrival.
Winter is no exception. Two of my winter favorites: mistletoe
and sycamore. Coon Cove — the name assigned to our valley on a
late 19th century deed — is surrounded on three sides by steep
ridges, the crests of which mark the boundary with the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. By the time my wife and I get
home during the winter months, the evening sun is setting behind
the southwestern rim of the cove. This illuminates a stand of
white oaks situated along the highest ridge. Globular clusters
of mistletoe decorate the bare branches, glowing with pristine
intensity. It’s not difficult at that moment to comprehend why
mistletoe has for so long been a green emblem of renewal.
Numerous bird species — notably cedar waxwings and bluebirds —
are inordinately fond of the translucent white mistletoe berries
that mature in November and December. Mistletoe seeds are coated
with a sticky subst