Bingley, I don't think the pecan tree was a joke--but just an interesting detail and a humorous detail. Detective fiction writers are repositories of all kinds of details. I don't read detective fiction anymore, but when I did, I enjoyed the details.
Now about pecan trees: You might like them, Bingley. They are not aromatic trees, say, the way Atlantic cedars, which are actually junipers, are. Pecan trees have compound leaves, which gives the leaves a vaguely tropical appearance though they're not tropical trees. They can grow to be quite tall--I've seen pecan trees at least eighty tall, not unusual for such trees.
We planted some very young pecan trees on the farm about 20 years ago, and I'll tell you one thing: They are slow-growing hardwoods! They're only about twenty feet tall now.
Secret ingredients for highly successful pecan pies: One whole stick of real butter; Karo white corn syrup (no joke--makes a better pie than the darker syrups).
