On a mild, mid-March day, Town of Wake Forest Urban Forestry Program Manager Luke Devores conducted a personal tour of the pecan grove at E. Carroll Joyner Park. Once a 117-acre farm owned by the Joyner family, the property at 701 Harris Road was sold to the Trust for Public Land and later purchased by the Town in 2003 for $4.2 million. Over the next six years, the Town undertook work to improve the acreage as a park space, requiring an investment of several million more dollars. Finally, Joyner’s picture-perfect setting was opened to the public in August 2009.
Originally planted on the property during the Great Depression era sometime between 1929 and 1939, a now stunning pecan grove has stood the test of time. Devores says that 39 of the original 40-plus trees planted nearly 100 years ago remain standing and in good condition. However, with a lifespan of 100-120 years, these tall, proud trees only have a relatively short time left to live after producing countless pecans over the past century.
A QR code on signage near Pecan Grove allows visitors to take a self-guided tour.
A 2013 graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in wood science technology, Devores has been on the job in Wake Forest since 2018. Devores estimates that the grove is losing an average of three trees - per year. Out of concern for public safety, his team has removed three trees from the orchard over the past three years. On a brighter note, however, Devores and his three-man crew added six Caddo pecan trees on February 11.
“The trees we removed since 2022 met our risk threshold for removal, per International Society of Arboriculture guidelines,” Devores said at the time. “The 12 trees we planted in 2023, along with the six we planted today, will help ensure that the pecan grove continues to be enjoyed by our community for generations to come.”
In addition to removing and replacing unsafe trees, the Town also maintains a regular pruning schedule to eliminate hazardous limbs, thereby helping promote the long-term health of the grove.
"We keep pruning, but trees of this age can only take so much," Devores said of the week they spend pruning every year.
The grove is managed to yield an annual pecan crop and community members are encouraged to visit the park and harvest the pecans in the fall. "There was a bumper crop two years ago," Devores said. "Nearly knee-deep," he exaggerated, but only slightly.
Many visitors come out to gather pecans, Devores said. Folks tell him they'll come back with a pie, however, the urban forestry expert said he's yet to get a piece.
Despite this abundance in Wake Forest, "We're running out of pecan farmers," Devores said. In order to further contribute to the cause, Devores called the NC Pecan Growers Association, which put him in touch with a grower in Goldsboro who sold Devores all the seeds he had.
"We keep a very close eye on all the trees in the grove," he said. "We had to cut one down after a large branch fell in November."
With numerous saplings now in the ground, they will take approximately seven years to bear fruit.
But until that happens, a few dozen others will keep producing for years to come. Persimmons can also be found at the park. As part of the Town's upcoming Arbor Day celebration on April 26, some 3,000 Redbud seedlings and others will be given away.
"We could not be more grateful to Carroll Joyner for donating this beautiful land and all the hard work the Town undertakes to maintain this public space that so many enjoy," said Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership (WFBIP). "The pecan grove is yet another unique destination that serves to set the Wake Forest community apart from its peers. It’s a place my family and I enjoy personally, and I’m encouraged knowing that every effort is being made to protect and sustain the grove in the years ahead."
