Hi. Thank you. I looked at the pictures. Although the nuts look somewhat the same, the color is creamy white, and I would not describe these nuts as easy to crack. I think it was planted from a selection, from what I have read. These are good quality nuts and not terrible to remove from the shell. I really hate to lose this tree. It has fruit every year and not every other as the article states wild ones do.

My greatest gift, like Golddust, was the gift of a child to raise as my own. To this day, I can't find the words to explain the profoundness this ultimate gift meant, and continues to mean, to DH & Myself. Ours was a private adoption. When our son was in his first year of college, I located his birthmother and birthfather with his blessing. To thank them for this child of ours, we "gifted " him back them both. They were invited to call him their son, see him whenever they could manage get-togethers. His BF lives in another part of the country, but his BM lives only 30 minutes away from us. Whenever DS is home for leave or for holidays, he spends time with her and her family, too. She and her family have even celebrated Christmas Day here with us, as well as DS's 21st birthday party here. Both BM and BF and their families were invited to his college graduation ceremony, and to his going away party right before he went into the Army. Every year since I found her, his birthmom, who is now a dear friend, and I meet for lunch on his birthday to celebrate "our" son's life so far. We take silly pictures on our cell phones to send him, wherever his is at the time (college, grad school, Army). His birthfather has also become a good friend to us all. Although married, our son is his only child and he cherishes their times together and phone calls. He's, sadly, in the final stage of pancreatic cancer. DS flew out to spend time with him earlier this year and they just had their last phone conversation on Sunday, when DS was able to call him from Afghanistan. I will always cherish this greatest of gifts and have told them both many times how much it has meant to DH & Myself. Thank you for starting this lovely thread and thank you for allowing me to tell you all about my best gift ever. Lynn

Heartnuts are real nice trees, too. They're the size of Persian walnuts. Juglans ailantifolia is the Genus/species. Grafted varieties are the way to go. Grimo Nut Nursery in Canada has some real nice cultivars. These are photos of heartnuts from Grimo: J.ailantifolia 'Campbell CW-1' J.ailantifolia 'Imshu' J.ailantifolia 'Imshu' J.ailantifolia 'Locket' - one I would choose J.ailantifolia 'Simcoe 8-2' - This is the other I would choose... personally. J.ailantifolia 'Stealth' J. ailantifolia 'Stealth' You will need two different cultivars for pollination. Heartnuts are Japanese walnuts. The nut meat is very tasty like Black walnut vs. the more dry flavor of Persian walnuts. To crack them you set them sideways (as is shown on photo 2 of 'Stealth'/'Imshu') and tap them with a hammer (if you don't have a strong piston type cracker.) They make a "snap" sound and the nut separates in half or putting your fingernails between the suture line will open them up "super easily" and the nut meat falls right out, literally. This is the nut meat of a heartnut: Above is 'Fodermaier'. A friend has an old tree growing close to my home. Here is a very old specimen of a Heartnut tree. My friend's 'Fodermaier' that's 35-40 years old: They would be a great tree, set of trees... for a community garden. They have semi-large leaves that make them very attractive. The climate of New York City would be ideal for them, as-well. Remember though... you need grafted varieties to ensure what you're getting. A seedling heartnut could turn out to have a nut that isn't heart-shaped. And, grafted-trees ensure you get nuts that when easily cracked, the nut meat falls out very easily. Dax

The one thing that is set in stone is engraved shot glasses for my friends wedding. Actually more straight sided so they fit tea lights. Over-ordering so they will be used for veggie cups, probably a chocolate mouse for the 'cake' tier, and table lighting...possibly a gazpacho. They want enough for all to take home a few. No cake. A big tiered affair we are making. Petit fours, various chocolates, mini this and that...massive amount. (we are making the tier) another friend is making and organizing all the sweets. We did a no-no list. No heating or re-heating on site. All fresh do-ahead. No pineapple, no mayo, (except fabanaise), No melon baller, lol. No dips, no bagels, no humus. No charcuterie platters. Yes to mini scones. Maybe to mini frittata. No dance floor, loud music or band. Friends will bring instruments for impromptu music and a few good singers among us. (later around sunset bonfire) A few toothpick items...caprese, watermelon/fetta/cucumber/olive, (square). One all fruit and one all veg/fruit. They want all squares or triangles. Classic crustless tea sandwiches. And probably a club and a pastrami, cubed and toothpicked. For kids, chocolate almond butter and jelly, honeyed cream cheese and Nutella on raisin bread, (so good). Maybe a pinwheel or two. I'm making spring rolls. One rectangle table for tea/coffee tea at two pm. Tea sandwiches, etc. One rectangle table other side of tent for misc veg snacks One round table for 'cake' and misc sweets 3 round tables for sit down, lots of extra chairs service at five pm 2 food stylist/caterers early to prep, (they are fast and precise)...they leave around 2-3pm but will make soup and salads before they leave. Salad in small white Chinese take-out containers. Big kitchen island for prep and oven/stove can be used but trying to avoid too much of that. Everything at the same location/waterfront. A friends home but stipulation was a tent and an executive port-a-let...very nice one. After service not decided. Probably a small catered Bbq/clam bake/bonfire Fhew, first time I wrote that out. I've been doing shopping lists and loose budgeting.... Oh, they booked and paid for 20 rooms at a great spot nearby for mostly flight travelers and will host an open bar after party there. Invited 110, probably final tally will be 85-90