Queen's Walnut

There are few things in life that leave a huge impact on more than just ourselves. It's what grows into our legacy. Our personal story. What made us who we are. Sometimes, there is a special event, or a memorable family heirloom. For us, there are many things that have shaped us and have given us grand stories to tell of this life we lead. One of those grand stories, is one very close to my heart.

This farm has been quite the legacy in itself. Providing for generations, not only a home, but a livelihood, even when times were hard. Granny (Phyllis) has told stories for years of the giant black walnut at the end of the driveway, behind the house. Towering and sprawling bows, it's trunk so big around, it took four people, arms stretched out, to encircle it fully.

Many people had mentioned how beautiful it was. We knew this, but truly had no idea what it could become.

A couple of years ago, through a connection of a mutual friend, we were introduced to Pacific Rim Tonewoods. It's owner, Steve McMinn, who has built an amazing business here in Skagit County, turning beautiful trees, into stunning sheets of wood for instruments.

After speaking with Steve, he agreed to come out and meet with us, and survey the tree. He was awestruck just as we all had been for years.

With a connection of a logger friend who agreed to come help with the pristine removal of the black walnut, history was in the making!

Here is the video interview that Steve did with Granny explaining the story of the majestic black walnut.

This story has gone even further than this, too! Not only did Taylor Guitars here in the US, purchase this wood for their guitars, but so did Lowden Guitars in Ireland for a collaboration with Ed Sheeran for the Lowden x Sheeran Guitars collaboration! You can see the story on our Facebook page here!

We are not the "fame and fortune" type of people. But for our little family, seeing something that meant so much to all of us, going to something, especially guitars, is full-circle for us.

Granny's husband, Ernest (Pops, to all of us), was the lead singer and lead guitar player of Queen's Bluegrass for over 30 years. Bluegrass was a part of who he was; it was in his blood. But I will leave that story for another time....

**Photo Credits: Phyllis Queen, Steve McMinn, Pacific Rim Tonewoods