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.