Tung Oil Trees

You get your tung oil straight out of the can, Right?

Did you know how it got there?

Down one block here in Aiken, South Carolina, is a line of tung oil trees.

Back in the summer I posted a photo on Instagram of the fruit growing on the tree.

The first blush of color on the green fruit.

The photo from August shows a lot of color.

The trees stand about twenty feet high and have lovely large leaves.

The trees are mostly round in shape.

Last week I noticed the fruit had ripened and was falling to the ground.

The color is very pretty, but they quickly continue ripening ...

Until they are brown and ready for processing.

At this point the city usually comes along to gather them up before ruining the cars parked underneath. 

The fruit will split easily into three to seven pieces.

Peel off the outer husk to get ...

These hard-covered wedges.



















 

Peel the hard cover and the paper-like cover off to reveal ...

A very hard kernel.

Yes, it is covered by yet another hard shell.

I smashed it between two bricks to reveal (FINALLY!) the inner white core.

In the processing plant this would be pressed for the oil.

So now you know where your tung oil originates.

I'll never bemoan the price of tung oil again.

A whole lot of work.

Interesting facts about the tung oil tree can be found HERE.

Like "tung" is Chinese for "heart" - the leaves are heart-shaped.


See y'all!

ETSY SHOP IS CLOSED

Amaze Me Monday #187

Are You Registered?

Come on in and sit down.

Have you registered to vote?

You only have two more days to be able to vote in the presidential election.

Don't like the two candidates on the news?

Well, believe it or not, you actually have several choices.

I have been working with my local American Association of University Women (AAUW) registering eligible voters at two colleges here in the Aiken area.

We know how to lure students in - see the bowl of chocolate?

Works every time.

Remember your vote does count. 

Even if your choice does not win, the results will be analyzed for voter preferences for future elections.

If you are not registered, please do.

If you are registered, please VOTE!



See y'all at the polls!

ETSY SHOP IS CLOSED

Maid Marion

This is Maid Marion - one of Aiken's famous trees.

She is over 160 years old and over 200 feet high.

For perspective, the brick wall is eight feet high.

Behind the wall in the lower left you can catch a glimpse of a house with a red chimney.

Alas, Maid Marion is ailing.

Decades ago tree wisdom had the hollows cemented and blocked up.







Not a good idea - the moisture can do more damage than good.

Rot is not the cause of her ailment.

She has been seen by two tree surgeons, and the news is not good. 

Maid Marion is weak and cannot be healed.

Though she has had several surgeries over the years.

Another arborist has been called in to see if there is anything to do for her.

If no Robin Hood appears, Maid Marion is doomed.

She will come down.

We will grieve her loss.

We do love our trees.




See y'all!




 

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