July 5 Full Size Hickory Nuts

From Illinois to Wisconsin, hickory nuts have grown to their full size. Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is a common native to southern Wisconsin and has played an important role on savanna ecosystems for a long time. You can recognize the tree by large leaves which are usually 5 and sometimes 7 per leaflet. Also its shaggy bark that curls away from the tree is a dead giveaway. If you still can't identify, then look for two or three green fruits in midsummer, and nutshells in fall as squirrels feast on the ripe nuts. In winter, look for a tree with curvy alternate branches and extremely large buds. The nuts are edible and supposedly taste a whole lot better than acorns, so maybe try making a hickory nut snack this September if you have some in your yard or nearby.