In a 36 hour period we had over 7" of rain, and an old leaning mesquite came down. This was a blessing--not only did we get to meet Dooley and Desert Rat when they came to get some of it, we also found that mesquite has a great grain. This is the tree shortly after its demise: downed mesquite ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) After we cut it up into lengths we could handle and got rid of the twiggy stuff, my husband started to study grain patterns and made the following from it: mesquite cane ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) mesquite cutting board ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) mesquite candleholders ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) The cutting board is about 18" square and I have my eyes on another slab of mesquite for another cutting board (there are never too many cutting boards in a kitchen!). He has refused to let me use the cane--the handle would be so handy to bop people who need bopping, and I have a quick temper and a strong arm. The candle holders will go on our dining room server where they can be admired. So, the mesquite may be gone, but it's not forgotten, or wasted!
Recycling at its very best!! I really like what your husband has been able to do with the fallen tree. I hope he goes on to make many more items. I have quite a few wooden items in my kitchen and use them every day. The cutting board is a great size and I know you're going to be reaching for it time and time again.
Ohhh I love the cutting board. That kind of grain in wood make some really beautiful table tops. Nice job.
Beautiful woodworking, love the cutting board. Mesquite is great wood for so many things from cooking to woodworking!!
Very nice marlingardener. I think we should all get the most life out of everything we can. Sometimes we forget that there is life beyond what we see and it's very gradifying. Once these things, the cane, cutting board, and the candle holders, in about 50 or 100 years are used up they will make nice heat being burned in a fireplace. And just thing the little twigs and parts will be mulched or burned or used to smoke something.... wow. That's cool.
This wood has a very beautiful grain indeed! Had to look up mesquite tree, as I'd never heard of it before. Reminds me a bit of an acacia tree.
Mesquite is a "pest" tree in Texas. It moves into abandoned fields and takes over, crowding out native trees. It also has thorns, so isn't a browse tree for anything much except goats. Most mesquites are small with trunks about 4-10" around. This was a very large mesquite and had obviously been here for years and years. We weren't particularly sorry to see it go since it had been declining for several years. Our bees like the mesquite blossoms, but we have a small stand of mesquite down in the pasture so they won't miss this one's contribution to their pollen/nectar source. The leaves do resemble acacia leaves, Gardenelf. We have acacias here too, but they are ornamental trees in landscapes, mostly.
Thank you for explaining, marlingardener. It confirmed my suspicion that this tree can be a bit of a nuisance. It's size turned out to be a good thing after all, because you managed to get some nice wood out of it!
