Green Horizons

Trees can make a fruitful lunch, too

By EUGENE L. BRUNK

Well, fall is upon us and it's time eat some of our trees. Not the whole tree, just the fruits and nuts some of our species produce! Beat the squirrels, deer and other woodland denizens for some tasty morsels left out there in your woodland, backyard or local "waste lot." Urban landscapes, in particular, are beginning to sport more tree species that produce edible fruits and/or nuts. Fruit trees, especially some of the dwarf varieties, make good landscape trees, if planted and managed appropriately, and they also provide delicious fruit to be enjoyed in the fall of the year.

True nuts come from trees. Apples and pears come from trees, but they're not nuts; but they're still good for you. Deer, bears, raccoons and squirrels also love them, so be ready for competition.

There are several native nuts out there that are good-tasting and good for you. Walnuts and pecans top the list, and are familiar to most Missourians. Hazelnuts are also a favorite, although it is really difficult to beat the wild beasties to a crop of them. If you do, you're in for a treat.

One can sometimes find chestnuts under a planted Chinese chestnut, if there are other chestnuts around for pollination. Hybrid and non-native chestnuts are finding more favor among folks, so there may be more out there coming into bearing age. Chestnuts are good eating, especially when roasted on an open fire.

Photo courtesy of Eugene L. Brunk

Shellbark hickory nuts, still encased in their shells, are ready for picking.

My personal favorite (although I like all nuts) is shellbark hickory nuts. I don't get them too often, because shellbark is not common around my home. Not many people collect or process them because they are difficult to crack and pick. But when you find a good shellbark nutmeat: yummy!

Among tree fruits - other than the apples, pears, plums - persimmon and paw paws have their devotees. I have found that you must catch their fruits at the right time to truly enjoy their taste. Eating a persimmon before it frosts can be an experience your taste buds will remember for a while, while the banana-like taste of pawpaw sometimes takes a leap of faith if it isn't just right in ripeness.

So, check out some of the trees in your neighborhood to see if there is something out there to pique your tastebuds. Get permission from a landowner before harvesting fruits or nuts not on your property. In general, fruits and nuts can be gathered from most public lands for personal use. However, be sure to check with the local managers to make sure you don't violate a regulation.

Why not take advantage of nature's largess, especially in your own yard. In addition to the wonderful tastes, fresh fruits and nuts are high in nutritional value, and it makes no sense to let them fall to the ground and rot away or get tangled in the lawnmower. Harvesting also offers the opportunity to involve the family in a "togetherness" activity, which someday might be remembered as a valued tradition. There are many grown children who fondly remember collecting walnuts with their mom or dad, and making delicious goodies in the family kitchen during the cool fall weather.

Trees are not just for shade anymore.