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| Chris's nuts (Ahem!) |
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| A perfect walnut! |
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| More than holding its own above the hedge line |
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| Mrs. Slingsby's Walnut now 9 years old! |
Nine years ago, Chris brought a self set walnut tree from the late Mrs' Slingby's garden and planted it in the hedge line behind the tool shed. For a number of years it was jealously guarded and prevented from being overgrown by hedging plants in its baby years. For the very first time last year, it bore fruit. We were away when the nuts were ripe. Chris picked all 5 and even sent us photographs whilst we were in Moab having breakfast! When we returned Chris ceremoniously presented us with our very first 5 walnuts from our 8 year old tree! The following day and without even thinking Al cracked them all and he and I shared them between us without a thought for poor Chris! For a whole year we weren't allowed to forget for a single moment this gross and thoughtless oversight!
This year, he wasn't going to miss out. For months Chris kept a VERY strict eye on the now 6 walnuts growing - hoping that they weren't going to be found by grey squirrels or us! Every Saturday Chris checked and, more importantly counted the six walnuts.
This Saturday, he checked their status and, quelle horreur! Three were missing! We searched around on the ground beneath and to my relief found the remaining 3 - phew! After all work was finished, they were carefully shared out - 2 each. The most perfect and delicious walnuts in the world!! I reckon for such a young tree to bear fruit after 8 years is pretty good going. Hopefully, we're now forgiven for last year's oversight and our special tree will go on to bear more bountiful yields!
