Look what I found! I think these are walnuts. The trees are about half a mile from my house, and appear to be part of an abandonned orchard. They border the U.C. Hansen Trust property on Saticoy Avenue which was sold last March to be developed into houses and condos. It will be sad to see these lovely old trees go.
If these are walnuts, the outer husks should give a deep brown color — almost black. I brought a bag of them home and I’m going to boil them up and see what I get.
Yes, they are!!! I also have a tree in the yard of the new studio space I have with my interns. I have been walking on them to get to the car every day and thinking that they are almost ready to gather! I also have been gathering sprays of leaves that fall from the trees to use in eco-dyeing on paper later this year… I have made walnut dye and walnut ink before – the hulls are wonderful that… I also like the dye in the paper pulp for the very distinct brown it gives… Mimi
Interesting, Mimi! Have you tried the leaves for ecoprinting yet?