It is not very often when you can go from snow in the low 30s, to freezing rain in the mid 40s, to comfortable beautiful weather in the upper 60s, and then back down to the wet and windy lower 50s in one week.

Nonetheless, the magnificent Miss-Lou provides that on special occasions and last week was a special one. Unfortunately, I was out of town and missed all the snow, but I hope all the kids had a memorable time playing in it.

There is no doubt this weather does mean both winter and the holidays are just around the corner.

Every year we get calls about decorating with plants, specifically mistletoe. So here is a question that seems popular so I answer it around this time every year.

Q: How does mistletoe grow, where does it come from, and what are some other uses?

A: Early observations noted a plant would often appear on tree branches where birds left their droppings. The old English word for dung is “mistel” and the word for twig is “tan.” Combining these you get misteltan, which evolved into the term mistletoe, meaning “dung-on-a-twig.”

Dung-on-a-twig is not the only name given to mistletoe. After the sticky, white substance lands on a tree limb, a root grows through the bark and into the vascular system of the tree where it taps into water and nutrients resources. Appropriately, American mistletoe’s scientific name, Phoradendron, means “thief of the tree” in Greek.

Around 2,000 B.C. the Celtic Druids in Great Britain considered mistletoe a sacred plant and used it to counteract poison, increase fertility and protect against witchcraft. It was called Allheal in folk medicine and the North American Indians used it to treat toothache, measles and dog bites.

In the 1600s and 1700s, mistletoe was used in the treatment of epilepsy, nervous disorders and internal problems. Although the mystique of mistletoe has faded with time, research conducted in the 1920s suggested that it might actually have anti-cancer properties.

However, the berries and foliage of mistletoe are poisonous. Ingestion has caused seizures, vomiting and in extreme cases even death has been documented.

There is more to mistletoe than its association with humans. It is important to wildlife as an essential food, cover and nesting site.

Some birds, butterflies and insects are dependent on it for survival.

There are more than 1,300 species of mistletoe worldwide, two of which are native to the United States. Dwarf mistletoe grows out west and American mistletoe in the east.

Perhaps the most important contribution of mistletoe is its representation of peace. When enemies met under mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day.

This ancient custom of hanging mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging a truce under it as a sign of friendship and good will still exists today.

So if you are not sure how to say hello or show affection to someone this holiday season, don’t forget to hang some mistletoe around the house and express your feeling for all those you care about.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at 601-445-8201.