[Music] A botanical experiment has been growing at Arnison Acres Park for the past 25 years. With a little luck, the fruits of this trial run will take root in other city parks. Edina TV shows us where a handful of northern pean trees can be found and why growing more of them is so important. As with any harvest, >> ahead of me is the peon trees. >> Timing is everything. >> Once a squirrel sees them, within one or two days, they'll be all gone. >> It turns out squirrels have a big appetite for the pecan nuts. These seven trees at the south end of Arnison Acres Park are growing. But retired park service worker Tim Zimmerman's determination is even greater. >> There I go. I got two of them. You see, he helped to plant these trees 25 years ago, and he's been waiting all summer for this opportunity. >> Well, last year I was on vacation, and I came back a week later, and they're all gone. >> It turns out retirement, >> someone got three of them, >> has its benefits. >> They're absolutely delicious. It all started from Okus Nursery, which um they haven't been around for over seven years now. Uh grew these called the northern peacons. And I believe the peacons originally from southern Minnesota, which is zone 5. We're in zone 4 up here. >> In the past, it was thought this part of Minnesota was too cold for these trees, but now a handful are growing successfully. And the goal is to grow more. >> And I think it's going to benefit having diversity of different nut trees growing because of different diseases and stuff that come by. This year's harvest will go through a few months of refrigeration before a process that simulates critters scratching at the nuts husk. >> What they need is it's called scarification. And so what we do is just take them, put them in a big uh jar with with sand in there, and then shake them. >> But the city's forester says it's worth the effort. Just like this American chestnut growing nearby, a species that was nearly extinct, finding new seeds to grow is challenging. They're in such high demand that they won't even be available to order unless like you reach out to them ahead of time or get like on a list. >> Someday soon, more of these pecan trees will be found in other city parks. The squirrels will be there, too. >> And I got a feeling each year it's going to get better. >> I'm Dan Carpenter, Rodana TV. >> If more than enough of a pean sprout next year, the remaining plants will be available for purchase at the annual Mother's Day plant sale. Hosted by the Edina Garden Council.