Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Diospyros Virginiana, Weather Oracle

Yesterday I did a post on the winter fortune telling abilities of our local American Persimmon trees (Diospyros Virginiana).  Well, it's not the trees themselves with the psychic abilities, but their seeds.  If you split one open lenghtwise, it will reveal either a knife, a fork or a spoon.  Finding a knife will mean you're in for some bitter cold winds that cut like a knife.  Opening one to reveal a spoon / shovel means you'll be digging out your driveway on a regular basis.  And one can only hope for a fork, as that signifies a mild winter and good eating.

Not sure if it's just Ozark Hillbilly Snockered on Moonshine kind'a folklore or if it applies to wherever persimmon trees abound.
Where American Persimmons can be found.
The Arkansas Champion Persimmon tree is located in Yell County and has a 151" circumference and is 96' tall (as measured in 2004).  Our persimmons are skinny, tall and lanky with a circumference less than 12" and I seem to have more standing dead ones than live ones.  Not sure if we just don't have the right soil for them, if there's some sort of persimmon disease in our woods or what.  I just try to make sure that Paul doesn't doze them over.

Did you know that the seeds of the Persimmon were used as buttons by the Confederate Army during the American Civil War?  And the roasted, ground seeds can be used as a coffee extender / substitute.

I know that my Northern blogging buddies are jealous of my Southern Oracle Tree so I did some research and came upon the seeds of the Great Northern Persimmon (Holycrapus Damitscoldus). I split it open and this is what it revealed:

I'm thinking you guys are pretty much screwed.

9 comments:

  1. LOL, you are so right! We're getting more snow today and then Friday and I'm sure next week and right into the fourth of July. At least it feels that way.

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  2. You are SO FUNNY! Seriously, you are the reincarnated albeit irreverent Erma Bombeck. That cracked open Great Northern Persimmon, Holycrapus Damitscoldus, laid me flat in gales of laughter.

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  3. Ditto, what Mama Pea said. I roared this morning - thank you for being you.

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  4. Could have been worse if you had seen a road grader or something I guess.

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  5. Carolyn,

    I so love your sense of humor!

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  6. That's the most accurate weather prediction I've ever heard. If you lose interest in goats, you can go give Al Roker a run for his money. This year we found all three centers in the persimmons from two different areas of our property, and you know what? We've had all three kinds of weather! LOL

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  7. My grandma had a persimmon tree and it was a BIG deal to check the seeds with her every winter. I'd forgotten, thanks for that memory!

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  8. LOL....We have wild persimmons around these parts. I've got to find a seed and see what's in it. I'm hoping for sun and palm trees!

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  9. Wow, your Latin is remarkable! If only all Latin names were so descriptive.

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