I took note of this walnut tree the first time I walked along the creek, before I had even purchased the property. It's the larger of two big walnut trees on the bank of Walnut Creek and is appropriately located in the center of the Walnut orchard. Most of the trees in the orchard are offspring of this tree and so I named it The Matriarch Tree.

The tree measures 24 inches in diameter at the base, and stands at a height of about sixty feet, which is still not yet the dimensions of a mature walnut tree. They are known for being long-lived, slow-growing, reaching a height of 70 to 80 feet at maturity, and attaining diameters of two to 4 feet when grown in a forest stand. Under ideal conditions Black Walnut trees have grown to be 150 feet tall and over 8 feet in diameter.

Black walnut trees have an average lifespan of 150 to 250 years, but can live for more than 300 years under ideal conditions. My best guess, based on the size of The Matriarch Tree and what I know of the history of the property, is that she is about 50 to 60 years old. The First Tree, the tree that inspired me to start the orchard, is now 16 years old and has a diameter of 10 inches.

The Matriarch Tree

The Matriarch Tree in Late Summer

Clusters of Fresh Walnuts on The Matriarch Tree