Mixed Nuts Traditional Cache
JenniferK: Sigh, the cache is indeed missing again for the fourth time. It is time to pull the plug. Sorry to all.
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An easy stroll to see the results of graft without corruption.
This is my third attempt at this cache and third location. The first two were lifted by unkind people. This one is a little more off the well-used path.
The California Black Walnut, Juglans hindsii, is a big native walnut tree with, of course, black and deeply furrowed bark. Old records show the trees originally grew on the banks of the Sacramento River near Walnut Grove and in the valley near Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County. Black walnuts are often associated with sites of old Indian villages.
Well, when the white settlers arrived, they saw the trees and said, "Goody, walnuts." Then they tasted the nuts and said, "Yuck." (These quotes come from the ahistorical records!) They were accustomed to English Walnut trees, Juglans regia, which are native to Europe, India and China and have a smoother, gray bark. They tried planting English Walnut trees around here, but they didn't thrive in the soil and climate (those 100+ degree summers are a bit offputting to sensitive types).
So, being enterprising Americans, the settlers grafted English Walnut tops onto California Black Walnut bottoms. You will see these strangely mixed trees, now quite huge, around Sacramento, mostly near the river. There is a very big one at Ancil Hoffman Park near Effie Yeaw Nature Center and several in yards along Suffolk Way, just north of the eastern end of Arden Way.
And there is this line of the great old trees at this cache. I guess this area must have been part of someone's walnut orchard at one time. Take a look at all the trees; they are all quite different. Particularly note the difference in the leaves of the English tops and the black bottom sprouts.
Also, as you stroll, you can see my first cache, Proud Mary, to the north. If you haven't hit that yet, you can do a two-fer with a nice amble across the new bridge we taxpayers are paying for.
Free parking isn't far away, or you can pay the fee and park a few feet away.
The cache is in a small plastic container with some kid-related items.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g ybbx hc.
Treasures
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