You don't get many overcast, 88 degree days in Phoenix in the middle of July, so when one comes along you grab your walking shoes, or your dog, or in my case, your rake, and you enjoy the day. Before me lay an expanse of seed pods expelled from a beloved Mesquite tree, and I was determined to rake them into submission and fill the waste bin to the brim.
But something magical happened as I raked those seed pods. Their sweet peppery scent wafted up my nose. Their warm yellow color smiled at me. I could hear the musical shicka-shicka-shicka of the dry seeds inside, and suddenly, I couldn't bear to throw them out.
The second bag of pods rustled off to Michigan, where my uncle will use them to add aroma and flavor to his BBQ. For more information about the benefits of Mesquite pods for BBQ, check out this web page: http://www.barbecuebible.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=13761&sid=fa4f4bab612303f5afbfc6e7faa001b2
A mountain of pods remains. Some will feed the army of rabbits and squirrels that inhabit our yard, and I will use some of them to make wreaths for friends and family. But what to do with the rest? Each seed pod is its own little miracle, a small package created by the sun's energy and whatever nutrients this amazing tree was able to eek out of the dry desert land. When I think of the elements that went into their creation, I am in awe. So I will continue to brainstorm ideas to avoid throwing them in the bin, and hope you will share your ideas as well.
So I gathered them up in bags and boxes and began to brainstorm ideas for their use.
The first bag of pods became a wreath which now graces my front door. I used a foam wreath mold and craft wire to set the first layer of pods in place. I hot glued a second layer of pods over the first layer, creating a sunburst effect. To add color, I hot-glued dried Saguaro fruit (which was also laying in the yard) around the center.
The second bag of pods rustled off to Michigan, where my uncle will use them to add aroma and flavor to his BBQ. For more information about the benefits of Mesquite pods for BBQ, check out this web page: http://www.barbecuebible.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=13761&sid=fa4f4bab612303f5afbfc6e7faa001b2
A mountain of pods remains. Some will feed the army of rabbits and squirrels that inhabit our yard, and I will use some of them to make wreaths for friends and family. But what to do with the rest? Each seed pod is its own little miracle, a small package created by the sun's energy and whatever nutrients this amazing tree was able to eek out of the dry desert land. When I think of the elements that went into their creation, I am in awe. So I will continue to brainstorm ideas to avoid throwing them in the bin, and hope you will share your ideas as well.
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