I grew up in the land of the black walnut, Juglans nigra. And if you grew up in the eastern US, then you did too. It has a very large range in eastern North America. And the eastern US forests have pecans, hickories and walnuts, all of which are trees in the walnut family, Juglandaceae!
Juglans major is the only species of walnut in Arizona. The species J. microcarpa is not that far way to the east in New Mexico and Texas and there are rumors of it being found in Arizona. More on that in future episodes!
Anyway, I love Arizona walnut! I’ve collected walnuts all over the borderlands and grown it for many years. It’s a fast grower when it’s young and grows to a magnificent long lived shade tree. Plant one for your kids or grand kids, or great grand kids or great great grand kids.
The photos are mine and taken at our home.
The botanical name for Arizona rosewood is Vauquelinia californica. The species name californica means of California, but it’s not found…
This poem was originally written as part of the 2012 poetic inventory of the Saguaro National Monument East. Writers, poets and at least one...
There are 2 species of walnuts here in the borderlands of southern Arizona; the Arizona walnut (Juglans major) that I talked about and a...