A Heavenly Body?

My neighbors’ tree seemed tall and spindly; it wrapped itself around a telephone pole. For the first time we noticed apple-sized green orbs hanging from it and could not figure out what the fruit might be.

The “fruit”

Two “fruits” and apple on right for size comparison

A “fruit” cut open with black pit inside

I posted photos  (excuse the poor quality, I was unable to enlarge cell phone photos, but some can be clicked on to enlarge) and a bright friend on facebook nailed it: black walnut!

We collected a bunch more and cut them open only to find loads of maggots in some around the pit creating a mush. Others yielded intact pits that need to dry. Cracking them open will be the test.

look like baseballs, they are hefty

The “fruit”

The “fruit” has a sweet odor

cut open there is a pit

…needs a bit more drying

Cleaned off, the pit looks more like a walnut

to be continued-