WHY CUTTING DOWN A SAGUARO CAN GET YOU JAIL TIME What Makes This Cactus So Special?
Can you imagine getting 1–4 years in prison for picking a
• Saguaros only grow in certain parts of the Sonoran Desert, which extends northward from northwestern Mexico into Arizona and parts of California. You won’t find this rare species anywhere else in the U.S., so it is protected under state law. • These plants take an incredibly long time to grow and mature — up to 200 years! That means that some of the saguaro cactuses alive today in the Sonoran Desert were probably alive during the Civil War. • People just seem to love cutting down, shooting, and otherwise damaging saguaros. Since they take a long time to mature and are relatively rare to begin with, this vandalism and destruction is a serious problem. These are some of the reasons why damaging a saguaro cactus is a Class 4 felony in Arizona and punishable with prison time. For a while, news outlets and websites claimed that the penalty was actually closer to 25 years — the sentence someone might get for murder. But, there’s no evidence of that in Arizona law. However, the fact that this rumor has long been circulated shows that people understand how important the saguaro is and how important it is to conserve them.
bouquet of flowers or chopping down a tree in your
backyard? While not for just any old rose bush or oak tree, that’s the prison sentence you could face in Arizona if you get caught chopping
down a saguaro cactus.
The saguaro is an iconic cactus species. It’s the tall plant with prickly green arms that you immediately think of when you hear the word “cactus.” If a 1–4-year prison sentence seems harsh, consider these facts about the saguaro: • The saguaro’s white blossom is the Arizona state flower. (Yes, cactuses flower; they bloom in the right conditions, usually during the spring.) Locals take pride in their beloved spiky plants, which means senselessly chopping them down is bound to earn you some ire from the state’s residents.
Is the Hot Toddy Indian or Irish?
How to Make a Modern Hot Toddy We may never know the true origin story of the hot toddy, but VinePair.com speculates that it’s somewhere in the middle of the two accounts. Either way, the results are delicious and easy to replicate in your own kitchen. If you could use a pick-me-up, try this recipe inspired by CookieAndKate.com.
Jan. 11 is National Hot Toddy Day, but how much do you really know about this popular winter drink? Though the word “toddy” sounds British to American ears, it actually has a contested history split between two entirely different countries: India and Ireland. The Indian Affair: How the British Stole the ‘Taddy’ Today’s hot toddy is a steaming blend of whiskey, tea, honey, and lemon. But back in the early 1600s, it may have had different ingredients. According to VinePair.com, around that time, a popular drink called the “taddy” existed in British-controlled India. Originally, the Hindi word “taddy” described a beverage made with fermented palm sap, but a written account from 1786 revealed that the ingredients had evolved to include alcohol, hot water, sugar, and spices. The British swiped the idea of a “taddy” and brought it home to England. Legend has it that in northern England’s cozy pubs, the “taddy” became the “toddy.” The Irish Account: Dr. Todd’s Boozy Cure-All The Indians and the British aren’t the only ones who’ve claimed the toddy: The Irish have a stake, too. As the story goes, once upon a time in Ireland, there lived a doctor named Robert Bentley Todd. His signature cure-all was a combination of hot brandy, cinnamon, and sugar water, and it was so well-known (and tasty) that eventually, his patients named the drink in his honor.
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 oz whiskey
• 1 lemon round
• 2 tsp honey (or agave nectar for a vegan version)
• 1 cinnamon stick
Directions
1. Heat the water in a teapot or the microwave. Pour it into a mug.
2. Add the whiskey, honey, and lemon juice and stir until the honey is dissolved.
3. Garnish with the lemon round and cinnamon stick and enjoy!
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