Black Walnut trees grow throughout Appalachia and they happen to be one of my favorite trees. I love the taste of black walnuts, but that isn’t the reason they’re my favorite tree.
The dark trunk and branches of Black Walnut Trees call out to me in a way I can’t explain. The first fall Chitter noticed the trees lost their leaves she grabbed hold of my shirt and pointed saying “Momma look the trees are naked. They’re gonna freeze to death!”
When Black Walnuts go ‘naked’ in the fall of the year I don’t think there is another tree that compares to their beauty. As their dark outlines spring up against the sky the trees takes on an old world royal appearance to my eyes. Their stately look gives the aura of being above the fray or maybe instead it’s the look of having been here so long they know all about the way of the world in an intimate manner.
Black Walnuts can grow to heights over 100 feet. Walnuts loose their leaves quickly once fall arrives, but just before they turn a vibrant yellow. The bark of the tree has deep furrows in it, the texture is part of what makes the tree as a whole take on a black look especially in late winter.
The trees have predominately been valued for their nuts, but rating just as high is the value of their wood. From gun stocks to furniture the wood is still in high demand today, just as it has been in the past. Also highly valued is the brown dye that comes from the outer hull of the walnut. The dye is used to dye fabric, yarn, wood and other items.
Black Walnuts have even aided in the health of past and present generations. The juice from the nut hulls was widely used for skin aliments-most commonly ringworm and psoriasis.
As I did a little additional research on Black Walnuts I discovered some interesting tidbits about the trees.
- Ground up walnut hulls are used to clean jet engines-and even aid in some oil well drilling applications.
- The roots of Black Walnut trees are considered toxic-and can cause other plants growing nearby to die.
- Juglone-the poison that occurs naturally in the roots-can also be found in other parts of the tree. Certain types of exposure to the substance can be harmful to animals and humans.
- Sadly I discovered Black Walnuts have an enemy they don’t seem to be able to fight. Thousand Cankers Disease is attacking Black Walnut trees. A few years ago the NC Department of Agriculture issued a ban on walnut wood entering NC from certain states in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease. I’m not sure if the ban has been lifted or not.
There are lots of Black Walnut trees around my house and along the roads I drive each day. Over the years, I’ve come to think of a few of them as friends. Crazy as it sounds, I feel like they watch with interest as I drive under them going to and fro.
They say your childhood travels with you for the rest of your life and I believe it does. It comforts me to know many of those stark, strong, regal Black Walnut Trees that line the roads of Brasstown are the same ones I used to stare out the window at when I was riding in the backseat of Pap and Granny’s car. Back in those days all I had to do was watch for my favorite trees and dream.