DS #10 - Black Walnut Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

TeamObbie1: We hope it is only coincidence but many of the Dendrology series caches have been destroyed in the last few months. Looks like someone decided they needed an ammo can and took this one. We are going to archive these caches. TeamObbie1 is moving to the great state of Washington - watch for a new series over there.

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Hidden : 6/12/2010
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Dendrology Series #10 Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Dendrology \Den*drol"o*gy\, n. [Gr. de`ndron tree + -logy: cf. F. dendrologie.]
A discourse or treatise on trees; the natural history of
trees.

People who have been caching in this area for a while will recognize this location as the exact same location as an archived cache called Sycolin Creek Cache by Xydexx Squeakypony and Rigelkitty. They archived it and we were too late to adopt it so we thought we would place our own cache here as part of the Dendrology Series.

Along the W&OD Trail between Belmont Ridge Road and Cochran Mill Road there is a wonderful little set of mountain bike and horse trails that lead down to where Sycolin Creek meets up with Goose Creek. It is a very pleasant scenic walk but be advised that there are lots of ticks and poison ivy so be careful. We have placed this cache exactly where the original Sycolin Creek Cache was placed near the base of a nice Black Walnut tree. Finders of the original cache are certainly welcome to log this one as well if you visit it again and sign our new log book.

General Description:


LEAVES: Compound, alternate; leaflets 15 to 23, each 3"-4" long, small-toothed; dark yellow-green above, paler, hairy below. End leaflet absent or very small. Main leaf-stem with very fine hairs.
TWIGS: Stout, orange-brown to dark brown, roughened by large leaf scars, easily broken; pith pale brown, chambered. Buds gray, downy; side buds 1/6" long, end bud larger.

FRUIT: A round nut, 1"-2" in diameter, shell rough, covered with a thick, almost smooth, green spongy husk; oily kernel sweet. Flowers in drooping green catkins, appearing with the unfolding leaves, which is also true of butternut.
BARK: Dark brown to gray-black, with narrow ridges.
GENERAL: A large-sized tree, found locally on rich soils. Wood valuable for quality furniture, veneer, gun stocks and musical instruments.

Additional info and personal opinion:

Black Walnuts are great trees for old fields and wood lots but make lousy trees for home landscaping. They tend to be quite dirty, dropping small branches and twigs throughout the year and when the nuts fall in late summer or early autumn they make a real mess. Their husks cause stains that are in many cases permanent. They also are known to excrete small amounts of a natural herbicide into the soil. This natural herbicide is intended to keep competition for nutrients and sunlight to a minimum, but if you have a Walnut Tree too close to your vegetable garden, you may find it difficult to grow many vegetables. Tomatos are especially vulnerable to this toxin.

On the up side, these are great trees for wildlife. The abundant crops of walnuts are very good nutritious food.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Genqvgvbany svaq.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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