Hickory Trees

Last month, I showed you the hickory tree and told you about the nuts that were hanging on it.

Well for the first of October, I could only find one nut.

I looked as high as I could, but I just didn’t see them.

I did find lots of big leaves turning yellow.  Soon, the whole tree will be a bright yellow.

Looking down, however, they were everywhere.

The nuts are fairly small.  They are a very hard nut to crack; it generally requires a hammer.  Like a walnut, it has an outer shell.  If you’re lucky, they outer shell will open to reveal the white hard nut inside.

I’ve been picking nuts today.  I much prefer using the hickory nuts for baking than the black walnuts that grow here because the hickory nuts do not have a heavy oily taste the way the walnuts do.  They are perfect for baking!   I think we’ve picked enough to last all winter.  I’m obviously not the only one who was enjoying this year’s bountiful crop because I found several that looked like this.

This tree by the fallen cottonwood is just one of six shagbark hickory trees on the property.

They are considered a native tree to this area.  You can see that their bark looks all shaggy which is obviously where they got their name.

While Mom and I were going from one tree to another, I caught a glimpse of white.  Can you tell what it is?

I slammed on the brakes quickly, and it’s a miracle I didn’t throw Mom out of the Ranger.  I found a deer antler!

This is the first one I’ve ever found, so I’m a bit excited about it.

Linking to The First of the Month.

Linking to SOOC Sunday.

Linking to Homestead Barn Hop.

Linking to Macro Monday.