Having lived in Manhattan for nearly thirty years, I cannot say I knew too much about trees. In our new house in Connecticut, I am learing.

Just ten yards out of our bedroon window is a very big and beautiful tree. When we moved here in February we would stare at the bare majestic branches. It is a work of art.  Spring arrived and the leaves filled in, and then over the summer nnuts appeared. I did not realize at that time that the tree would become a feeding ground.

Now the branches shake and the tree rains with nut shells that litter the grass. Squirrels sit on my porch table chomping away.

I was curious to know what they are eating. First crabapples, I thought, for no intelligent reason. Then picking one up I realized it had a shell and looked more like a nut than a fruit. What kind of nut, I wondered.

The tree is also right outside my den window where I sit at my desk.  I am looking at it right now. So it is easy to find pictures on line for easy comparison.  For sure it is a hickory tree. But what kind? I learned there all are sorts of nuts on hickory trees.  Pignuts, shellbacks, shagbacks, and more.  I am thinking this tree is either a pignut or kingnut.  It is good to know.

I can't decide if I am annoyed at the squirrels and the mess they are making. I think maybe I will go out there and pick up some nuts on the ground and throw it at them to make them go away. But I don't.  That would be mean, and stupid since they like the nuts. Kind of like throwing a worm at a bird.

It doesn't really matter if they annoy me. The squirrels and the kingnuts got here first.