Mistletoe At Longwood Gardens

There is none, plain and simple.

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that attaches itself to tree branches, sucking out water and nutrients. Severe infestations can kill the host tree, but only one or two results in stunted growth. The mistletoe produces white, waxy berries, and the seeds are spread by bird droppings. Human ingestion of the berries results in stomach cramps and diarrhea. Mistletoe is not welcome in a display garden.

Traditionally, a man plucked off a berry for each kiss, and when the berries were gone, so were the kisses. My theory is that he ate each berry and soon forgot about kissing, but that is only my theory.

If you want mistletoe in your home, chose a plastic variety.

RWalck@Verizon.net