Bois d'arc

[Chuck Bao]

So, I just finished a video for my parent’s 50th and I did an Oh Happy Day video thing with the sunrise over the old Bois d’arc tree in their front yard.

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/treesunset4resized.jpg

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/treesunset3resized.jpg

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/treesunset2resized.jpg

Although, I admit I didn’t know how to spell it.

Dang, I hate those trees and I hate brush hogging and spraying poison in the pastures.

And, I didn’t know how to google it because I always called it “board ark”.

Googling for crab apples and horse apples didn’t help because, for some reason, the web thinks that crab apples are like an edible fruit and horse apples are like horse manure.

Oh my hillbilly upbringing!

So, a trees of Oklahoma website got me on the right track and an SMU site got me lowdown on this tree, which was pretty cool.

http://www.smu.edu/anthro/collections/boisdarc.html

The name comes from the fact that the tree was used by Native Americans as the wood for making bows because of its elastic qualities.

I’m like totally awed. My grandfather made his fence posts from this tree. I can’t imagine chopping one down without a chainsaw. But, I suppose that was easier than making bows from them using a stone axe.

Did you ever get that Oh Happy Day that I’m living now and not then feeling?

[12]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/zebvancewright/farmer.jpg

[SoonerProphet]

I live on Bois D' Arc Court...i always have to spell it.

[12]

We fight those things constantly on our land here in south Texas. If you ever decide to get rid of those, better have long, thick sleeves, leather gloves and goggles. It is a beautiful wood to have milled, but man, is it nasty to bring down.

[OUDoc]

It is a beautiful wood to have milled, but man, is it nasty to bring down.
Yeah, that's what my wife says.

[GDC]

heh

[GottaHavePride]

That stuff is awesome. Hard as a rock, won't rot. I have an uncle that made longbows out of that stuff to go bowhunting.

[proud gonzo]

yeah, grandpa's house (down in southern oklahoma) is also built on top of 4 big tree stumps as a foundation.

[SoonerInKCMO]

Did you ever get that Oh Happy Day that I’m living now and not then feeling?

Every time I grab some Cottonelle to wipe my ***. :texan:

[joex2]

Is this the same stuff? Stickers growing out of stickers? Stickers that are longer than your fingers? Stickers that flatten tires on the truck and trailer gathering pruned limbs?

just wondering. If so, then yeah, they suck.:mad:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8411/prunethis3iy.jpg

[Okla-homey]

Some folks call that tree "Osage orange" as well. I think its just an "aka" sort of thing, but might be a slightly different species. Anyhoo, those big light green softballs the thing makes have absolutely no use as food for animal or man. Goats won't even try to eat them.

[Okla-homey]

So, I just finished a video for my parent’s 50th and I did an Oh Happy Day video thing with the sunrise over the old Bois d’arc tree in their front yard.

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/treesunset4resized.jpg

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/treesunset3resized.jpg

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/treesunset2resized.jpg

Although, I admit I didn’t know how to spell it.

Dang, I hate those trees and I hate brush hogging and spraying poison in the pastures.

And, I didn’t know how to google it because I always called it “board ark”.

Googling for crab apples and horse apples didn’t help because, for some reason, the web thinks that crab apples are like an edible fruit and horse apples are like horse manure.

Oh my hillbilly upbringing!

So, a trees of Oklahoma website got me on the right track and an SMU site got me lowdown on this tree, which was pretty cool.

http://www.smu.edu/anthro/collections/boisdarc.html

The name comes from the fact that the tree was used by Native Americans as the wood for making bows because of its elastic qualities.

I’m like totally awed. My grandfather made his fence posts from this tree. I can’t imagine chopping one down without a chainsaw. But, I suppose that was easier than making bows from them using a stone axe.

Did you ever get that Oh Happy Day that I’m living now and not then feeling?

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/200/gonewithwind2005f4ey.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[12]

Yeah, that's what my wife says.

Doctor Shecky, ladies and gentlemen. How about another hand for Doctor Shecky.

GHP, yes... it is an incredible hardwood. (Doctor Shecky, ladies and gentlemen. How about another hand for Doctor Shecky.) I've made some cigar gift boxes and other small projects out of the stuff. Barring fire, tsunami or politicians, they should be around for the 3006 Antiques Road Show.

joeX2, if I'm lyin' I'm dyin'... your photo represents the exact stuff we call "BOdark" in this neck of the woods. That's why I never tackle that wood without the sleeves or goggles. (Doctor Shecky, ladies and gentlemen. How about another hand for Doctor Shecky.)

Homey, the trees here don't produce the magic green balls, (Doctor Shecky, ladies and gentlemen. How about another hand for Doctor Shecky.), but my best friend Google told me that you are correct. I remember seeing those as a kid in NW Oklahoma... must be a different strain. We used to use those things for batting practice. I remember they stank. If you smashed one, you'd have sticky, stinky juice on the end of your bat.

(Doctor Shecky, ladies and gentlemen. How about another hand for Doctor Shecky.)

[AlbqSooner]

If you smashed one, you'd have sticky, stinky juice on the end of your bat.
Nahhhh, I ain't going there.

[Tiptonsooner]

Joex, what you have a picture of is a locust tree. they have worse thorns than an osage tree. Osage, bois d'arc and horse apple are all the same thing.

And Homey, I have seen sqirrels and deer devour the horsapples when they fall off of the tree.
If you put a couple in the corners of your house, no more spiders.

[Tiptonsooner]

How's that for hillbilly knowledge....

[Okla-homey]

Joex, what you have a picture of is a locust tree. they have worse thorns than an osage tree. Osage, bois d'arc and horse apple are all the same thing.

And Homey, I have seen sqirrels and deer devour the horsapples when they fall off of the tree.
If you put a couple in the corners of your house, no more spiders.

I think horses just nibble on them for entertainment...like cribbing in a stall.

No telling about the squirrels though.