We have lived in our present house for almost nine years. In the back yard sits the bane of my existence: a cluster of black walnut trees, one of which is on our property, three others sit on the neighbors' (2) land.
As a former woodworker I can attest that black walnut wood when used to make furniture is beautiful. Wonderful grain, really nice texture.
But I see no other use for Black Walnut trees, at all. I had lunch with a fellow at the local cafe last summer and he mentioned casually that he had just finished planting 1000 black walnut trees on some property he owns. I lambasted him fully for doing so.
Soon after we moved in, it became quite apparent that the trees are problematic to have around. Our tree is huge and because of this shades too much of the lawn, and the walnut casings kill nearly every plant they come in contact with. After having two sessions with a commercial tree trimmer our tree is somewhat tolerable but it still would litter the back yard with hundreds of walnuts and the casings every Fall. And the squirrels love the walnuts and they, like humans, like to live close to the source of food so we've had them in the house (nasty) and in the trees.
Each Fall we would have to pick up and bag hundreds and hundreds of walnuts, and the casings. Hands stained brown.
About two weeks ago, upon my return from Europe, I was walking in the back yard surveying the spot I'd thrown down some sod when I realized that this year, for some unknown but wonderful reason, the trees threw down very few walnuts. It's not just my tree, but the trees in my neighbors' yards saw no walnuts, or very few, as well.
I don't know the reason for this. The old German farmer/worrywart in me hopes that this is not the harbinger of a very cold and tough winter. Perhaps the trees just don't throw walnuts every once in a while. No idea.
Regardless, we liked it very much, life without walnuts in the Fall. Hands very white.
As a former woodworker I can attest that black walnut wood when used to make furniture is beautiful. Wonderful grain, really nice texture.
But I see no other use for Black Walnut trees, at all. I had lunch with a fellow at the local cafe last summer and he mentioned casually that he had just finished planting 1000 black walnut trees on some property he owns. I lambasted him fully for doing so.
Soon after we moved in, it became quite apparent that the trees are problematic to have around. Our tree is huge and because of this shades too much of the lawn, and the walnut casings kill nearly every plant they come in contact with. After having two sessions with a commercial tree trimmer our tree is somewhat tolerable but it still would litter the back yard with hundreds of walnuts and the casings every Fall. And the squirrels love the walnuts and they, like humans, like to live close to the source of food so we've had them in the house (nasty) and in the trees.
Each Fall we would have to pick up and bag hundreds and hundreds of walnuts, and the casings. Hands stained brown.
About two weeks ago, upon my return from Europe, I was walking in the back yard surveying the spot I'd thrown down some sod when I realized that this year, for some unknown but wonderful reason, the trees threw down very few walnuts. It's not just my tree, but the trees in my neighbors' yards saw no walnuts, or very few, as well.
I don't know the reason for this. The old German farmer/worrywart in me hopes that this is not the harbinger of a very cold and tough winter. Perhaps the trees just don't throw walnuts every once in a while. No idea.
Regardless, we liked it very much, life without walnuts in the Fall. Hands very white.