When we moved to our farmsite 25 years ago there was a great tree in what is now what I call the orchard. Every fall it got these round 'fruit' that was a rubbery coating around a shiny dark 'nut'. In trying to research the tree I am thinking that it is a buckeye. Buckeyes are not edible as they contain a toxin and it doesn't really matter if they are edible or not because the squirrels get every single one of them. There is not a nut on the ground or left on the tree each fall. The one in the orchard has a place of prominence and there was a second tree near it which was cut down because of storm damage so I think that it was intentionally planted there. There are two other ones that are part of the grove, one on the south side and one on the east side. I am wondering if those are ones that were planted by the squirrels? They are fun shaped trees with interesting branches and they are early to flower in the spring and early to turn yellow in the fall. But no edible nuts.
When I was looking at the seed catalogs that Mom shared with me I noted that there were lots of nut trees but very few were safe to grow in our zone four. In fact the only ones were a sweet chestnut tree and an American hazelnut. We have two of each on the list and the challenge will be to figure out where to plant them. The chestnut will eventually grow into a tall shade tree and the hazelnut is suggested to plant where it will be protected from north and west winter winds. It will be important to have a vision for the future and other trees that may eventually be planted in determining the best location for these new trees.
Other fun stuff that are on the list:
Last year we grew ornamental gourds and we are growing them again this year but adding a small ornamental pumpkin and Indian corn. Last year we planted a pie pumpkin variety for eating and they were really good so we are doing those again but adding a carving pumpkin as well. I am also going to try growing two varieties of popcorn.
I've said it before Lorri...it is so cool that you have room to plant all this neat stuff! Our landscaping has to be meticulously planned, so the trees don't grow into power lines or too close to the property line...blah, blah. The town and their zoning laws have taken all the freedom out of gardening. I've always said that I was a farm girl at heart! :)
ReplyDeleteI live on a farmsite that is about 11 acres some of which is pasture and some is trees but there is a fair amount of grass. My youngest suggested that if we run out of space we can always move the fence and use some pasture for garden space. We have a few animals, mostly 4H projects that are now pets since my 4H'er has finished college but they could probably get along on a little less pasture. I remember a gal that i used to work with telling me that when they moved onto their acreage in the country that there were nine or ten different kinds of established fruit trees and now I am wishing that I had started sooner with planting stuff that needs a few years to start producing.
Deletep.s. I am going to buy some yarn and needles and give knitting a try. My niece was telling me that she made a scarf using her arms as needles. Have you heard of that?