Buckeyes & Conkers

Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava). This may be the first one I’ve ever seen sprouting.

Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). Looks delicious, doesn’t it? But don’t eat ’em, they’re toxic. Don’t confuse them with the sweet chestnut, e.g. marrons glacés.  The Horse-chestnut is a non-native tree planted everywhere as an ornamental. These big seeds are the originals used in conkers in Great Britain and Ireland.

Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora). Like the Yellow and the (see below) Ohio Buckeye (A. glabra). these are native to the U.S. Unlike the other Aesculus around here, this one is a bush. They have long upright panicles of flowers that attract a lot of pollinators.

Another Horse-chestnut. This plump glossiness fades and withers quickly.

These Ohio Buckeyes have shrunk to about 2/3rds their original size since I picked them up on 16 October. Yes, my pockets are stuffed this time of year.