Wednesday, March 23

You've seen people hiking with walking sticks. Some are interesting, some plain. Some have been enhanced with a leather strap for ease of carrying or maybe even a bit of paint to personalize them. But where do you get one yourself, besides some store that wants to overcharge you for something you could probably make yourself?
 
Check your own backyard. Or, when you're out for a hike yourself, look for fallen branches. Ones that are the length you need, or slightly longer, are good for a second look. So are ones with an interesting shape. For a walking stick with an interesting texture, take a fallen branch off a cholla. When fresh, cholla limbs are thorny like a cactus. Once fallen, though, they lose their thorns and have a beautiful almost woven pattern to them. For a smoother walking stick, try an old aspen branch. Post Oaks also make good, sturdy walking sticks. Find them in our tree nursery.