We were in Door County last week on vacation and saw this beautiful horse chestnut tree in bloom. We are usually seeing trees as firewood or lumber but once in awhile a tree like this shows up and one has to soak in the beauty of it. Enjoy the pictures.
When I was a kid all the boys would collect the nuts in bags to show them off to each other. The prize was when you found three nuts in one burr.
We used to toss the nuts into a pile of burning leaves. It was fun to hear them explode. No more burning leaves so that fun is gone. My wife has major allergy issues to that tree. Odd, but her parents had one on their lawn.
Great pics, Erik B ! I have been to Door County a few times and always loathe the ride leaving it. I too enjoy the beauty of trees. When the pieces are opened up (split) I catch myself looking at the grain patterns. I know-I really should have a bandsaw mill.
Here in the UK as kids we drilled a hole into the chestnut and put a string through them with a knot at the bottom, several nuts could be put on, and then played conkers. The object was one person held their sting while the other had a go at hitting it one shot each until the conker was smashed the winner was the one with his still intact. Can remember very sore knuckles when the person missed.
