After cutting out this page below from last years Folklore Diary for my scrapbook I decided to do some 'Following a tree' posts through 2026.
Horse Chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum). Were introduced to Britain in the late C16 and native to the Balkan States, they can grow to over 120 feet tall. They were often used for ornamental avenues of trees in parkland.
It says
"in folklore the horse chestnut is associated with bringing wealth and carrying conkers in your pocket would ensure you will always have money. The beautiful large flowers on a may time horse chestnut tree were known as 'Mary's candles' due to the Catholic association of the Month of May and Mary, Jesus' mother. The tree's name may derive from the base of a plucked leaf looking like a hoof or horseshoe shape."
The only Horse Chestnut I know of locally is in the car park of our village health centre where doctors and pharmacy serving this and several other villages are based. I still have lots of conkers from this tree on my window sills - and no spiders all winter.
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| The older Horse Chestnut in February |
And there's a ditch between the edge of the car park and the tree so I couldn't get close enough for photos of the trunk.
Then I remembered there's a young Horse Chestnut on the playing field of the village hall where we do the Keep Moving Group, much easier to get to.
Below is the young Horse Chestnut tree in March
I'll follow this tree through 2026, taking pictures around the middle of each month.....remind me!
The trunk of the young Horse Chestnut, the bark is grey brown and scaly.
A not very good close up of one of the 'sticky' buds - I need to take my proper camera
Back Tomorrow
I do like horse chestnuts! There is a determined one growing exactly beside our huge oak, it's struggling onwards and upwards but really doesn't stand much of a chance. I shall look forward to watching yours.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that they are an introduced species.
ReplyDeleteWe have a row of them around our local Portchester Castle, the kids love September when they collect conkers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely shape the young horse chestnut has and it’s great to see the buds forming in the Spring weather. I’ll enjoy following the progress of your tree. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThat bark makes it look so very old.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of the bark. I had forgotten about the stickiness. We had a row of the trees going up a drive near our house so cycling to school under the row of trees on a windy day was an experience —with conker raining down on me. Jean in Winnipeg.
ReplyDeleteConkers! All the rules as kids playing, and the triumph of a conker that survived to go on to the next year. Known in North Yorkshire kids slang as a laggyeara!
ReplyDeleteBrought back memories of sticky buds, lovely
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
The young tree is definitely the one to follow, it's a beauty. Lots of conkers around our homes too, and I have only had two enormous spiders all Winter, and I actually think they were trapped 'in' by the conkers. I've had no more though once they were relocated to the garden.
ReplyDeleteI loved sticky buds and the horseshoe scar on the twig.
ReplyDeleteHorse Chestnut trees are not seen often in MA.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely trees. I especially like the young tree you have pictured. It has a beautiful shape. I hope you can take follow-up photos to share as the tree goes into leaf and produces chestnuts.
Some years, the particularly well established trees, are spectacular! Great bell shaped constructions smothered in green and wearing their "candles" like a fully loaded Christmas tree! It's hard to think of them as a foreign import!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a horse chestnut growing outside my window when I lived in New York City, in a third-floor studio apartment. All my light came filtered through those beautiful green leaves in summer!
ReplyDeleteWe have two mature conkers in our garden . One of them has white flowers and the other pink. Both drop masses of conkers late summer. I know someone who makes a washing solution out of conkers - for clothes.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful trees…and home to much wildlife.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting bark on that tree. I will be interested to see how the tree progresses this year. I don't think we have any of those here in my city.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
There were so many horse chestnut trees in the local park when I was growing up. I remember throwing up sticks to see if we could knock off some of the conkers. We used to search beneath the trees to see if there were any that had fallen down after high winds.
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to following your tree as the year progresses.