HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - FROM OUR LAST VISIT T0 WALNEY VISITOR CENTER

You can enlarge all the photos for better detail and an easier read.

I have always enjoyed an old Black Walnut Tree that is situated not too far away from the old house (now the visitor center). It stands about 100 feet tall. I had to be careful where I walked on the grass and finally chose to go back to the pathway. The seed pods lay everywhere, and they were approximately 2 inches in diameter, many hidden by long grass - bumps and ankle twisters. I also wouldn't like to be under that tree when one fell. Like we wouldn't stand under a tree during a thunderstorm, we shouldn't be standing under trees when we see dozens of seed pods lying on the ground. It made sense to move out of their way. Below you can see Gregg's photo as he holds one. They seem quite dense and heavy.

I think someone had placed the following in a row. Children would be automatically drawn to them, adults too if we are anything to go by.

They will decompose eventually, turn black and leave behind a hard-shelled nut that is edible after processing. If you know enough to do that, you will be rewarded with a nut that is considered a superfood. It has a high protein and healthy fat content, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A great source of polyunsaturated fats, omedga-3s, fiber and manganese, and are linked to benefits like improved heart health. So, there you go, if you know what you are doing, it would be fun to plant a walnut tree, whether it be black walnut or the regular kind. The regular walnut offer overall more antioxidants. Best to read all this yourself, plenty info online, or even ask your doctor or a nutritionist if you would like more info. Interesting website here that shares its health benefits. Maybe you grow them yourselves and can offer some experience. 

These trees can last between 200 and up to 250 years old. The productive life for walnut trees producing nuts in orchards is typically much shorter, around 30 to 50 years.

There are 21 species of walnut trees in the world. They are found across the Northern Hemisphere, from Europe and Asia to North and South America. The English walnut is one of the most commercially important species, known for its edible nuts, and another important species is the black walnut as mentioned in my blog post. Black walnut is also prized for its lumber.

 I also read that all species of deciduous trees 

can grow quite tall, that they have leaves made up of 

multiple leaflets, and are also monoecious, meaning 

they produce both male and female flowers on the 

same tree. 

The plant in the photo above called Wingstem. It is 

native to North America. As I have gone on long 

enough about the walnut tree, I figured I would just 

leave the link for you to read if you would like to 

know more.

And that's where I end this post.

PHOTOS FROM WILLIAMSBURG ON 4-25-25

I didn’t take as many photos on our short trip here. I was having problems with not being able to walk too far because of my knee issues. Gregg dropped us off not too far from this courtyard. The part of the street you see is blocked off to thru-traffic. There were no regular shops on my side as they ended at the road on my left, and to my right it was the start of the historical colonial homes. There were only two tables in use in this courtyard,  I was sitting on a wooden bench in an area all to myself.  It was relatively quiet in my tiny bubble (also where I was privileged to witness the bee swarm I mentioned in this post). I sent my family off to look around the shops, assuring them that I would enjoy my time in this one spot. I love to people watch, and dog watch! I had a great time and not too long afterwards, Gregg after much waiting and circling around, found his parking spot and joined me. We have the app on our phone that locates each other. This is how he found me. I could also follow him and could see how far away he was. It's comforting to know where we are located and is a big help at such times.

Below is a close-up picture of the dog in the above photo. Williamsburg is a very dog-friendly place. People are very responsible and take care of them. I have never seen anything untoward in all the time I have been visiting Williamsburg and all the dogs, I have seen at least, have all been very well behaved. 

We always took family and friends here when they visited us. 

Years ago we lived an hour away and now it is about three to three-and-a-half hours from home, depending on traffic.

In the photo below, on the right of the picture you can see a round piece of art on the brick wall on the right. I wrote about it before, and it shows it in better detail. That post you can find here.

Last dog for today. I loved that expression. I felt she was saying, "I've had enough of this. I would like to go home now and find a cool spot to lie in by the window so that I can watch the world go by, just like that lady over there.” Our eyes connected and we understood each other. 

One last look at the shopping area and...

as our family joined us, Gregg left to get the car again. He told us to walk up the road and turn left on another road. We were to walk to the end of that road where he would pick us up. One of the buildings had a figure of a sheep placed in a prominent spot. These usually show what is being sold inside. It is part of Williamsburg where you often see people walking around dressed in colonial costumes. To step inside these shops it would have been like stepping into the 1700s. We needed to purchase tickets at the visitor center for access. No one felt like it as the general consensus was that time was getting late, and we still had three-and-a-half hours on the road. We had already driven over three hours from the Outer Banks, where we had spent a very nice few days with my sister-in-law and her husband.

I found a plant outside one of the shops called Wax begonia.

This field of wildflowers took my interest for a while as we waited for Gregg.

The buttercups were everywhere...

and so were the dandelions.

The next one is Sweet vernal grass. 

Next you can see the trunk of a Black Walnut tree.

For some reason I took not the whole tree but the bottom and some of the branches and leaves further up. Everyone’s energy level was a little depleted by this time, or perhaps I was projecting. At this link you can see more info. 

If you click here you will find every post on Williamsburg that I have ever done in the lifetime of this blog. Too much to see in one sitting but if you see something of interest, it will give you a lot more information than I have shown today.

I am at end of our latest trip to Williamsburg. It was short but very enjoyable. I know we will be back there again one day.

I am including another collage above and the signature below, which I put together with the app on my iPad. I never get bored using them, and these clever apps make it so easy to do. 

Take good care of yourselves everyone.