Growing on the High Plains: Pecan Trees

We've been keeping warm these past few weeks of winter by leafing through the various state trees of our High Plains region. Today's Growing on the High Plains take a peek at the mighty pecan tree, a beloved fixture of my Oklahoma childhood and a prominent producer of nut crops in Texas. While the name "pecan" has a handful of regional pronunciations, the shells also come in both hard and soft-shell varieties. But whether you have a nostalgic connection to these prized nuts, or if you just relish the many baked goods that boast their bounty, the pecan tree remains a sturdy symbol of how hard work yields tasty rewards.