Horse Chestnut Photos for Mid August

 Still following the Horse Chestnut  (Aesculus hippocastanum) that's at the village hall where we have the Keep Moving Group.

Last month we were "one step below drought" now we are in "official drought conditions" and the 5th recorded heatwave so it's  surprising to see it still green and not too many falling leaves either. The roots must be good even though it's still a youngish tree.

Often by August these patches of the disease are much bigger, turning the leaves very brown. The dry weather must stop the usually quick spread.

Guignardia Leaf Blotch (Guignardia aesculi): A fungus-driven disease.

• Symptoms: Irregular dull brown or reddish blotches, often surrounded by a conspicuous yellow band, typically concentrated at the leaf tips and edges.

The conkers are growing well - again despite the drought and heat. I guess when stressed all plants strive to produce seed to make sure they survive. 

When these trees were first planted in this country they were often used to line the driveways of large country houses.

In 1699 Sir Christopher Wren was responsible for the mile long Chestnut Avenue at Bushey Park ( now a Royal Park) north of Hampton court which was originally intended as a carriage drive for William III. 

Now a special Chestnut Sunday  is held there in May in alternate years.

Oh! There the chestnuts, summer through,

Beside the river make for you

A tunnel of green gloom,

And sleep deeply above

Rupert Brooke (1716 - 83)

All the photos from each month going back to March  ARE HERE if you want to compare.

Horse Chestnut Tree Mid July

Despite our "prolonged dry weather - one step below drought conditions"  here in Mid-Suffolk, the Horse Chestnut tree I've been following through the year is still looking green and not much leaf fall......compared to the Lime trees in the Churchyard near me which have lost so many leaves already, they blow along the road in the wake of the cars and trucks, looking more like Autumn.

The conkers are getting bigger and it looks as if there will be plenty to collect later, although I don't think children play conkers anymore - it's probably too dangerous for the 21st Century!

The blotches of the Guignardia Leaf Blotch fungus disease on the leaves  (luckily not affecting tree health)  don't seem to have increased too much from my June photos, perhaps the dry weather has stopped it spreading. 

The photos from earlier months are HERE for comparison.

Apologies for lack of replies to comments recently. Still not much to write about so I'll be back Monday.

The June Horse Chestnut Photo

 A month on from my last photo of the Horse Chestnut tree and the flowers have become conkers, very small still of course.

Sadly there are early signs of the disease which now affects the leaves each year - brown splodges starting to appear. In another month they will be even more widespread. The odd thing about this disease which is relatively new here (last 30 years maybe) is that it doesn't have any effect on the actual tree.....thankfully. Having lost Elm trees and Ash trees to disease we don't want to lose Horse Chestnut trees as well.

Guignardia Leaf Blotch (Guignardia aesculi): A fungus-driven disease.

• Symptoms: Irregular dull brown or reddish blotches, often surrounded by a conspicuous yellow band, typically concentrated at the leaf tips and edges.
• Impact: Mostly an aesthetic issue, though severe attacks cause the leaves to shrivel entirely. Raking up and destroying fallen leaves in autumn helps limit the spread for the following spring

The fungus was introduced accidentally into the UK from North America in the last century and has gradually spread around the country. 

 

Here's a reminder of how the tree looked a month ago

Back Soon

Signed Out and The Horse Chestnut Tree

 Very odd things happening with google here - it kept signing me out of the blog over the weekend. I managed to sign back  in twice after a lot of faff with passwords etc and having to get  number codes sent to my phone. It didn't last long as I was signed out again on Sunday!  I tried to find out why but the answers were a bit vague. Eventually I got back in again long enough to write this and   I think my comments on other blogs may have popped up as anonymous, so apologies for that.

  It was not just google who didn't know who I was  but also outlook (hotmail), BBC iplayer, Facebook Groups and  Wordle although I would have lost my streak anyway - the word was BYLAW. I only got the A!

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The Horse Chestnut I'm following through the year has changed so much in the month since mid April .

It's looking lovely with the white flower 'candles' and the leaves fully open but fresh  still Spring green.

And who knew all the ways the bark is/was used............

Horse chestnut bark (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a traditional herbal ingredient, rich in aescin and tannins, used to support circulatory health, specifically targeting vein health, reducing leg heaviness, and treating vascular issues. Primarily prepared as a decoction or tea, the bark is used for its astringent properties and can be used in topical preparations.

I'll not be trying it!

I'm scheduling this post for Monday morning and will see what happens, will I be signed in or not - that is the question. 

Back soon..................... I hope

Following A Tree 2026

 A month on from my first photo of the young Horse Chestnut beside the village hall where we have our Keep Moving Group.

Now it's Mid April

The leaves have begun to appear but not fully open as yet.

They really are brand new  Leaf Green 

Soon the 'candles' will grow and turn pink or white - I can't remember from seeing it last year which this one is. If white it's a common Horse Chestnut, if pink it's a hybrid, Aesculus carnea, often called a Spanish Horse Chestnut.

 Horse Chestnuts were introduced to Britain from the Balkans in the late 16th century but it wasn't until 200 years later when someone thought of the idea of playing conkers.

Anyone can enter the World Conker Championship if you fancy a trip to Northamptonshire in October. 

I just have them on the windowsills through winter and spring and no spiders seen for months.

Many thanks for all the Happy Birthday Wishes yesterday. I had some lovely cards and a very quiet day after another bike ride - now up to nearly 5 miles, which isn't too bad after more than two years of not cycling at all.

Back Tomorrow

Horse Chestnut

 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.

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 

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

I'll follow this tree through 2026, taking pictures around the middle of each month.....remind me!

Back Tomorrow