Remember the early days of this humble blog when I anguished about the lack of walnut trees in my woods at Roundrock? There was a point where any time I happened upon a walnut tree, it gave it a post of its own, keeping a count. I even tried plotting their location on a map once.
Okay, I'm older now, and I don't have to be so stupid. It seems like just about everywhere I look though, I see the distinctive leaves of a walnut tree over my head. (Well, not really everywhere.) When Seth and I were stumbling about the north-facing slope on our last visit, tracking the interloping cattle, I happened to look up and see this walnut tree you see above. It obviously has been growing there for years, far longer than my tenure at Roundrock, yet this was the first time I had seen it.
So let's say that my powers of observation are set pretty low. And let's say that I probably have three times as many walnut trees in my woods as I have seen. That means I have a pretty good population of walnuts in the 80+ acres of Roundrock. I can say that I've seen them in nearly every part of my woods, so I think it is safe to say they are throughout.
What I haven't seen is an actual walnut. I'm not sure why that is. Are my walnut trees not fertile? That doesn't seem likely. They got here on their own, so it is probably that they are as vigorous and complete as any walnut tree anywhere. Are the squirrels getting all of the nuts before I can even glimpse them? Perhaps, but while we have seen squirrels in our woods, we haven't see a lot of them. Surely one or two nuts have escape their notice long enuf for me to notice them. Or are my powers of observation set on low? Are there walnuts in the trees and I'm just not seeing them? Let's say that.
Missouri calendar:
- Smoketrees bloom on southwestern Missouri glades.
Today in Missouri history:
- Rose O’Neill was born on this date in 1874. From her home near Springfield, Missouri she created Kewpie dolls in illustrations and figurines. In the Roaring Twenties these sweet elvish creatures became an international craze.
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June 25th, 2008 at 5:44 am
Just how old does a Wally tree have to be to make nuts?
Maybe all of yours are on the cusp, soon to bring forth showers of nuts.
Lucky you for having such a fine tree species. We are almost out of their range so you almost never see one here.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I don’t often find the nuts but if you root through the leaves at the base of the tree, you should see signs of plenty of shells. The wildlife always seems to make quick work of any walnuts that fall so you have to be there at the right time.
Walnut trees seem to go on some sort of biannual cycle. One year the walnuts up here will be loaded down and the next there will only be a few if any. The following year it repeats.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am
We have several larger walnut trees which I don’t mind, but tons of little ones growing everywhere… which I do mind! Ours make quite a few nuts, but they are never really edible. Always seem smallish and filled with worms. I’m no expert, but I’ve heard there are some types that are not very good for consumption. On another note, I remember our neighbors property about 15 years ago- had about 10 beautiful, large, old walnut trees scattered around 30-40 acres. The owner then was selling… right before listing he went around and cut every walnut tree down flush at the ground. Said then he would get $5000 per tree. It left the land so open whereas before it looked beautiful with those trees. Never mentioned it to the new owners.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Powers of observation improve with time. The more time you spend at Roundrock the more you’ll start to see. That’s the best part of the being there.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Walnut trees are a sore subject with me this afternoon. Like Beau, I have an abundance of volunteers. This morning when I tried to dig up a sapling the shovel stuck and my face crashed into a lawn ornament, which I had foolishly placed on the seat of a grinding wheel moments before.Silly me. Today I hate all walnut trees; I’ll be more tolerant tomorrow.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I hope I start seeing those trees everywhere I look.
I need to go out on a quest to find them… there are bound to be some around here. If not – shoot – I’ll have to plant some, but I’m sure it takes a 1/4 century or so to start getting nuts.
Then again, I don’t think we’re going anywhere soon.
I enjoyed getting caught up on your recent posts. The underbrush and leaves around here seem to melt away as the seasons change… no fires though, thankfully. I’d be awfully nervous about a prescribed burn in the forest too.
Ron
July 1st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
What Ed said. But, I was just noticing the other day how camoflaged the nuts are at this time of year. You have to be looking with binocs to see them sometimes.