October 1st, and mistletoe season looms ever larger on the horizon.
What’s happening this season? Well, you know the sort of thing – sticky berries, sticky kissing, lots of wildly inaccurate media stories – same as usual really…
What’s the mistletoe looking like? Not bad actually, perhaps fewer berries than last year but they seem more fully-formed, larger. Last season many seemed a little on the small side. But it’s a little early to be sure – I’ll report again on the ‘crop’ next month.
Where to buy? Usual outlets seem to be gearing up for the season. The wholesale mistletoe auctions at Tenbury Wells will be on 26th November, and the 3rd and 10th December. Online outlets up and running include The English Mistletoe Shop (in which I have to declare an interest) and KissMeMistletoe and Intermistletoe – there are likely to be one or two others but they’re not all yet live for the season.
What’s happening at Tenbury Wells Mistletoe Festival this year? A variety of events, centred around the wholesale auction weeks, though without, this year, the Druid procession and ceremony – (updated 16.30: there will be a druid ceremony on Sunday 1st December, though this is, as far as I am aware, an independent Druid event not part of the formal Festival – clarification on this soon). Key events will include the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, who will, I assume, amongst other things, be reading her 2012 poem The Mistletoe Bride.
Any news on the Mistletoe League Project? More on that later in the season…
Two items of book news – A Little Book About Mistletoe, the slim volume I put together in 2010, is newly available via Amazon, and is currently on promotion.
It is in need of a few reviews, as it’s newly listed, so do please say something on there (be nice please) if you feel the urge.
And, secondly, the e-book version of A Little Book is finally in preparation – more on that in a couple of weeks time.
That’s all for now!
Recently, I was looking through Google images for a good photo of mistletoe. I am an artist and wished to make a realistic drawing of a few sprigs of said plant! I couldn’t understand why some mistletoe looked so elegant and beautiful, while others looked so forlorn and bedraggled–until I stumbled upon your blog! Where to begin…first of all, I would probably not look very good either if I knew some maniac with a gun was going to shoot me down; how much more peaceful and dignified it would be to have someone scale a ladder in order to acquire a few pieces of my lovingly grown branches! But, in America, it’s shoot anything, anytime, anywhere as long as it’s within reach of a fast moving bullet! And why shoot once, when a barrage is even better? So, even if I did try to look my best, no one would ever notice–particularly after a hail of bullets…second, after reading through most of your blog, I asked myself, once again, why my ancestors ever moved to this country in the first place, and wondered whether they would understand if I decided to move back! Your blog might just be the final argument I use for convincing my (grown) children that it’s long past time to get out of here, though I suspect there are already plans afoot…I’m willing to climb a ladder for my mistletoe any day–without the bullets for competition!
Hi Nancy, Thanks for your comment! For any readers who who don’t know the background to the US v UK mistletoe comparison have a look at my blog entry from 28th Dec 2011 here: http://mistletoematters.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/uk-mistletoe-looking-good-us-mistletoe-looking-well-a-bit-unloved/
Texas Mistletoe Crop for Christmas 2013
Media reports the last two years a shortage of Mistletoe for Christmas due to the Texas drought. Flower Wholesalers, Christmas Tree Farms, Garden Centers and households have scrambled to find fresh Mistletoe.
According to Brion Domman, Founder of MistletoeUS, a Texas based Mistletoe Company, this is not true. “We have a 50 year supply of Texas Mistletoe in our area.” “The drought has impacted the Mistletoe crop very little.”
Because Mistletoe is a parasite, the Mistletoe receives its nutrients from the host tree. “The Mistletoe will survive and eventually kill the tree,” according to Domman. “The Mistletoe will be the last to die.”
“The national shortage was reported by a competitor in Texas in 2011. Communicated to us by suppliers was they either had a fire or cut all the Mistletoe out of the area” according to Domman. “We have been blessed to transition their customers and grow the Texas Mistletoe tradition for Christmas. In addition, we have been able to grow the Texas Mistletoe Industry.”
MistletoeUS is based in Austin and has supplied Mistletoe to its customers for years. “We have branded our product lines to include TexasToe, our bulk Mistletoe and KissleToe our Texas sized 7” Mistletoe Sprig. Our competitors sell a small 4” Sprig. The MistleKissing Ball is very popular for Christmas and Weddings.”
The MistleKissing Ball is a 7” ball of fresh Texas Mistletoe that is hung and couples kiss in keeping with the tradition of Mistletoe for love, peace and fertility. “The MistleKissing Ball is very popular for wedding’s and we are growing our wedding business each year. Let the Kissing Begin!
Hi Jonathan,
Hope this finds you well, What’s the berries like this year??? The mistletoe calls are beginning to come in and i’m sorry to say it appears Christmas may just be around the corner?
Maybe we will see you at Tenbury Auction this year?
Kind Regards
Nick
Hi Nick
Yes, mistletoe calls are definitely coming in here too!
Berries looking fairly good – quite a lot of them, again. But it seems a bit variable – will be interesting to see what the auction lots are like. I should be there for at least one auction – not sure which though.
Regards
Jonathan