Here is my walnut story...
The American Black Walnut has long been a favorite of mine dating back to when their nuts helped pay for my education. Unfortunately, they are also favorites of lumber buyers who highly prize their spectacular wood.
One of the first things I did 42 years ago on my East Texas property was plant about 100 stratified seeds obtained from the State for re-establishment of these valuable trees. Years went by and I completely forgot about them. Then as luck would have it, while clearing out some thick brush along a creek bank recently I looked down and saw the unmistakable beautiful nuts scattered all over the ground and creek bottom. So far, I have found 2 mature walnut trees and suspect there may be more and also believe it's likely that someone downstream has walnuts also from these trees.
One tree has a diameter of about 40 inches and has a big part of the tree spreading out over the creek. It was the one whose nuts lead to the discovery.
I filled up a couple of buckets of nuts to stratify and start the process all over again.
The second tree has a more traditional shape, a diameter of 40 + inches, towering size and shows some signs of insect damage. It had very few nuts on the ground but very well could be in an off year as walnuts like pecans have an every other year cycle of heavy followed by light production.
I can't begin to express my feelings of satisfaction finding these trees and knowing that they will be here long after me and provide seeds for future generations of the great American Walnut.
Since I told that story I have found three more mature black walnut trees.
End of my American walnut tree story...thanks for indulging.