Black Walnut leaves (Juglans nigra) with their many leaflets turn from green to yellow early in autumn and with that change of color, they quickly fall to the ground. I love to capture the texture those leaves create against the blue sky before those leaves begin to drop.
The Black Walnut tree is also one that produces leaves quite late in the spring, in late May in some places. Early leaf loss, late leaf budding. A long time without leaves.
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This post touched me especially deeply since I moved from Amicus Road to Pittsburgh last Spring and now live with massive black walnut trees below my house. It has been fascinating to observe them aa well as the squirrels dedicated to gathering and opening their fruit. Of course the lace of their overstory has been hypnotic day and night, illuminated by moonlight, starlight, or lightning. Your description of the timing of their growing or losing leaves added a whole other dimension.
Oh Julie! I’m so very pleased to hear your thoughts on the Black Walnut tree. There are, I’m guessing, three of these trees that are in the area around the yoga studio at Amicus and Celt Roads, with absolutely nothing but grass growing under them thanks to the chemical juglone that the trees produce. Quite strange if you think about it. I’m thinking, “Why aren’t there any weeds there?!!” Up here where I live, on Snow Mountain, there are bunches of Black Walnut trees to fascinate me!
So very glad that you read my posts!
Bren