Remembering the Last Butternut Children: A Childhood Memory Rooted in Sweet Green Husks

Some childhood memories stay soft and green, like the sweet husks of the butternut tree—rare, vanishing, and unforgettable. In this lyrical nature memoir, Dorianne Ashe revisits the backyard forests of her early years, where imagination ruled, trees whispered secrets, and a single butternut tree shaped her sense of wonder.

Blending nostalgic storytelling with environmental reflection, Ashe uncovers the quiet magic of a childhood spent among rare native trees—and the ache of learning the butternut is disappearing from North America. Part memoir, part conservation tribute, this book speaks to readers who love nature writing, childhood nostalgia, forest lore, and lyrical nonfiction rooted in the land.