Mesquite is said to bring about perspective. While many consider the mesquite an invasive weed, for centuries it was a vital asset for the resourceful indigenous people.

Long before the first Anglo settlers came to Texas, Native Americans used mesquite in its entirety, seeing it as an integral part of their culture & survival. The wood and fibers were used to make shelter, tools, weapons, and kindling. They made sewing and tattoo needles from the thorns and used the inner bark to make baskets, nets, rope, & fabric. Due to its reliability, even during years of drought, the mesquite bean was a valuable commodity that was directly eaten or ground into flour. Even the gum was used as a glue, dye, or used in water-proofing baskets or nets.

The term derives from the French word “chatoyer”, which means “to iridesce, like a cat’s eye.” If you’ve ever seen the stone tiger’s eye, you get the idea. In woodworking, chatoyance is a similarly striking optical quality in which areas of light and dark grain seemingly shimmer or shift depending on the angle of view.

Sapwood is the living part of a tree where the sap and water flow. All wood initially grows as sapwood. As the tree ages, the innermost layers of sapwood turn to heartwood, which is no longer living and does not transport nutrients. Sapwood usually has a lighter color than the heartwood that it surrounds.