Conkers

A conker

is the hard, shiny dark brown nut 

of a Horse Chestnut tree.

I've always loved conkers

The way they hang on the tree in their spiky green capsules

and when they ripen,

the gorgeous, shiny, rich brown nut

appears and falls to the ground.

Every part of the conker is beautiful and harmonious,

even the inner capsule.

Some years ago,

I planted a conker and a wonderful horse-chestnut tree

started to grow.

I put it in a huge pot on my balcony

and every year it grew taller and more beautiful.

It grew taller than me and started to touch the top of the balcony.

One year, it gave flowers and I was hoping to get my own conkers.

but they didn't develop.

 The following year,

a very late frost killed my tree already covered in fresh leaves.

Maybe one day, I'll plant another conker and watch a new tree grow.

Just to explain a slightly confusing issue:

Conkers come from the Horsechestnut tree Aeseculus hippocastanum

 and are inedible.

Chestnuts come from the Sweet Chestnut tree Castanea sativa

 and are edible.

***

Extra Note:

Artist, Clare Willcocks

kindly asked me if she may paint a picture of one of my conker photographs

She has done a very good job of it here:

Clare Willcocks Art