Old Trees

Dear Diary,

This is an old Black Walnut tree at my friends farm.  Once, there was a line of them along the drive but over the years the others have succumbed to disease, the weather, and just plain old age.  This last old soul still gives its bounty of walnuts each year, soldiering on alone.  It is slightly bent to the east since our weather normally comes from the west and its knarled branches seem to etch the sky this late November day in a very appealing way.

I have a passion for old trees.  I grew up on Chestnut Street and remember one stately tree not far from the house.  I'm sure there were lots more at one time but they all died of disease.  When an old tree dies it tugs at my heart.  My old Maple in the front yard is in sad shape.  After years of having its roots squashed by road traffic and suffering the effects of all the salt they dump on the roads it needed an intervention.

Jim came and trimmed all the dead branches and later came back and fertilized it thoroughly by drilling deep holes all around and adding a rich, time released mixture.  (Extra photograph)  I have great hopes that this will give my old Maple a few more years of good life.  

In the 19th century many New England farmers planted Black Walnut trees as a kind of retirement fund.  These old farmers new a good investment.  While they waited for the money tree to grow they could sell the walnuts it provided each year, an annual premium the tree paid.  Black Walnuts are still very valuable trees today and can net as much as $20,000 a tree for a five dollar seedling investment.  So, it seems, money can grow on trees!