Agnostic.com
9 11

The Horse Chestnuts are in flower now in the UK. I do not know if they are grown much in the USA, but here they are so common , that many people think they are natives, though in fact they come from Asia.
The flower spikes are however spectacular,. sometimes nearly a foot tall and covering the tree, while the individual flowers are pretty in white and pink, and the large palmate leaves a foot across are great too

The only down side is that the shade is heavy so that it is hard to grow anything under them. Though the inedible chestnuts do find a use in the childrens folk sport of conkers.

Fernapple 9 June 6
Share
You must be a member of this group before commenting. Join Group

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

9 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

1

Ah conkers season. I remember my cousin's husband taking me in his MG to collect them up near Kendal.

FrayedBear Level 9 June 6, 2021
1

They remind me of Ohio Buckeyes which is the state tree of Ohio. Also known as Horse Chestnuts, they appear to be different species - Aesculus hippocastanum referred to here as the European Horse Chestnut, and Aesculus glabra for the North American variety.

Here in Texas, I've seen a Mexican Buckeye for sale, but it is a different Genus in the same family as the other two - Ungnadia speciosa.

RussRAB Level 8 June 6, 2021

Ah, you call them Buckeyes, I did not know that, thank you. Great photos.

2

Ours have just faded here. There is a small grove of them adjacent to a park I frequent, and I just love those blossoms!

3

Are you kidding. They are everywhere in this country. I have a giant one and a smaller one in my front yard.

Here's two shots one of the larger and the 2nd of both the larger and smaller when blooming. Those trees have become the bane of my existence. Constant pruning and cleaning up the huge masses of leaves.

JackPedigo Level 9 June 6, 2021

They can be a pest yes.

1

Beautiful! I remember horse chestnuts in my neighborhood as a child but that was Olympia, WA, which I hear is very similar to the Southern UK in climate. These don't grow anywhere near my region now.

3

Aesculus hippocastanum, not to be confused with Sweet or Spanish chestnut Castanea sativa.
I once shared a flat with a guy who mistakenly gathered some horse chestnuts (conkers) thinking that they were edible. I told him of his mistake and he said "I won't need these then" and threw them on the fire, A few seconds later there were a series of loud bangs and the conkers came flying out of the fire.

Moravian Level 8 June 6, 2021
2

There are horse chestnut trees in the US though I don't see them that often lately. The neighborhood I grew up in was loaded with them.

3

Do you remember the old song we used to sing as children...I think the words were taken from George Orwell’s 1984. I like this version by an unknown (at least to me) band Brainwire. - Under The Spreading Chestnut Tree.

Beware of sitting under the spreading chestnut tree as they have been known to drop large branches even on still windless days.

1

Not aware of these growing here in the US .

Cast1es Level 9 June 6, 2021
Write Comment

Recent Visitors 27

Photos 5,322 More

Posted by glennlab My first flowers of this spring. Lotus and blue bells

Posted by glennlab My first flowers of this spring. Lotus and blue bells

Posted by FrostyJimSeedlings ..

Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.

Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.

Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.

Posted by FrostyJim...don't be silly!

Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.

Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.

Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.

Posted by FrostyJimI usually drink coffee while planting seeds?

Posted by KilltheskyfairyI love all the information on the internet that makes me a better gardener…

Posted by Jaylo64Primative hydroponic system /an old shoe rack and coffee cans ! Cans above drip into the cans below !

Posted by 1patriotOne of the main reasons for last year’s ‘spike’, which the media and government agencies have avoided mentioning, is the Hunga Tonga volcano eruption two years ago.

Posted by FrostyJim...sometimes you just can't help it?

Posted by FrostyJimI got my first seed order in the mail yesterday! WOO-HOO!

  • Top tags#flowers #video #gardening #hope #god #religion #rain #friends #religious #world #reason #weed #weather #kids #book #cats #money #community #church #birds #dogs #Atheist #hell #mother #wife #children #death #Bible #Australia #florida #animals #Texas #Christian #hello #relationship #climate #Organic #agnostic #evidence #advice #parents #humans #coffee #species #belief #sex #atheism #truth #Jesus #apple ...

    Members 1,505Top

    Moderator