Pickles by Brian Crane for January 29, 2023

Nelson when the tree starts making nuts. You can gather them up and you might be able to sell them.

After Earl dies, the house may be sold, so Nelson might not get those nuts. Maybe Earl likes squirrels and Opal will complain about all the squirrels.

Nelson’s nuts. Pecans are great!

Somebody give that kid a piece of pecan pie. If he doesn’t like it he can still gather the nuts and give them away or sell them to someone who does like pecan pie. Like me.

Had Earl planted that when the lad was born, he’d might appreciate it more. He might like the fact that he and the tree were approximately the same age. He might also learn in time that when a person plants a tree or a long growing shrub, he/she is planting hope.

I wasn’t quite as bad as Petey Otterloop, but I was a VERY picky eater when I was Nelson’s age. I think I had PB&J sandwiches packed for lunch every school day for three or four years running. I didn’t try a Big Mac until I was in college…

But even I eventually broadened my horizons, at least to a semi-reasonable degree : )

❝ One time I found a $20 bill inside a pecan ❞

He’d learn to love pecans if he tried my wife’s pecan pie.

It’s the thought that counts, Earl!

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago

Pecans are my favorite nut. And saying the word, it should not sound like something that my grandmother kept under her bed.

If the tree is nutty enough it will remind Nelson of his grandpa

“A society grows great when old men plant trees the shade of which they know they’ll never sit in”

Wow. Believe this is the first time I’ve seen Earl doing any physical labor.

“I don’t like pecans”

“Do you to sit in the shade when it’s really hot? or breathe clean air?”

“Well, yes…”

“You’re welcome…”

I think about my past yard. I do hope the new owners are enjoying the trees planted and grown to a decent height. I managed to keep them alive through sapling-hood. In an odd way they felt a bit like family.

I think you have to plant pecan trees in pairs, not sure why. My parents had two in their back yard. When I was younger we used to gather the nuts and shell them. Now I’d rather go to Costco an buy a large sack of them.

My grandmother said something similar. Yet, before she died, that tree was over 50ft / 16 m tall and producing hundreds of pecans. It’s never too late to plant trees, you may be the beneficiary of it yet.

By the time Nelson grows up, his tastes may change. And he’ll grow to love pecans and the tree that grandpa planted for him! Now that’s a warm memory

Better plant two. Pecans do not self pollinate.

YUM. Pecan Pie.

Learn to make praline pecans.

Enjoy watching the squirrels. Maybe your dogs will like eating them. Some do.

THAT’S JUST NUTS..!!!!!!!

If life gives you pecans, make pecan pie.

I’m going to do the same, right after our six feet deep frost is out of the ground.

I had to quit pecans in my breakfast cereal, and resort only to walnuts due to the ridiculous price increases …. same with our cranberries switched with dried apples.

“It takes a special man to plant a tree whose shade he will never enjoy.”

The squirrels will steal all the pecans.

By the time the tree bears fruit, you’ll like pecans, Nelson.

In Granbury Texas USA our tree preservation ordinance allows cutting down a mature Pecan tree and replace with a Bradford pear.

put a little salt on them and they’re delish

That’s really nuts…

Earl just for your edification pecan trees to bare nuts need two or more different cultivars, as they require cross pollination for maximum productivity. So Nelson you don’t have worry, that unless Earl takes my advice.

You don’t have to like them. The squirrels will probably eat them anyway.

Maybe by then he’ll like pecans.

would Nelson prefer a cashew tree instead although the fruits aren’t edible and the nut grows on the bottom of said fruit?

Where my sister/husband live, there was already a walnut tree and does produce walnuts. My sister tried to work with the walnuts and wear gloves made her fingers dark. Makes a great shade tree.

I love butter pecan ice cream!

Honesty isn’t always the best policy, especially when an unnecessary truth hurts someone’s feelings.