Shortly after we moved here, we planted a couple of pecan trees in our orchard. One was a Western Schley variety, and the other was a Colby pecan.
The goats got in the orchard a few times and girdled a few of the young trees. One of the pecans bit the dust due to those goatly depredations. The other one continued to grow, and a couple of years ago had a few pecans on it for the first time. The Farmer still has one of those pecans tucked away somewhere among his treasures.
However, one lonesome pecan tree isn’t going to produce as many pecans as The Farmer would like. And we kept hearing reports of bumper pecan crops around here this year, so The Farmer was miffed because all he had on his tree were some dried up old leaves.
Or so he thought.
One day after his new knees were working nicely, he decided to go up to the orchard and have a closer look.
Surprise, surprise! His tree had lots of pecans too! What he thought from a distance were old leaves turned out to be pecans when he got up close.
Of course, he just had to harvest all those wonderful pecans, but the question was how to get them off the tree.
He could stand on the ground and knock the pecans off the lower branches, but the ones at the top of the tree were a little hard to reach. Determined to reach his prizes, however, The Farmer used those new knees to climb up on the pallets around the tree and brace himself on the tree so he could whack at them with his walking stick.
This went on for some time and he got lots of pecans knocked down onto the ground. I will let you in on a little secret though . . . if you want to harvest nuts that have fallen to the ground, it’s really better if you keep the grasses mowed down around the tree. It’s VERY difficult to see nuts nestled down in tufts of grass among tall weeds.
Especially when they sailed through the air like this . . .
And all too many of them did exactly that. Those airborne torpedos sailed waaayyyyyy out there! We searched in the grasses around the tree, going around and around and around and, well, finally gave it up.
We gathered up quite a few pecans, but I’m sure some were lost… well, like a ball in tall weeds. Or maybe a needle in a haystack. Whatever cliche you want to use, those pecans aren’t going to be found any time soon.
But at least The Farmer knows his pecan tree didn’t let him down.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Flying pecans? That’s nuts!
That is so cool! The pecan tree came through. And The Farmer looks great out there with his new strong knees.
Enjoy those fresh tasty pecans!
~Lisa
Ha, ha, Richard! Yep, the whole escapade was nuts!
Yes Lisa, The Farmer was thrilled his pecan tree had nuts this year after all!
Farmer trying to wreck those new knees for a few old pecans!!??
I’m glad his tree is still doing it’s thing, but tell him to just use a longer stick next time.
The Farmer is a little crazy sometimes. I will pass on your “longer stick” comment… he needs to walk softly and carry a BIG stick, huh?
I have to say I agree with Ceecee. Protect the knees!
How is the llama mama-to-be doing? Looking ready to have a beautiful cria?
Tell the Farmer *I* said…..purchase a long handled, telescoping, light weight pole (with brush on the end) from Lowe’s. It’s designed for washing campers etc, but I used mine for reaching high limbs….pecans and pears. Just wear protective head gear and do it when the neighbors are all gone from home!!!!