I spotted these alien life forms taking to the water while I was out walking the dogs last night. There were hundreds of them all bobbing about together.
They're conkers, of course the strong winds have blown them from a horse chestnut tree into this enormous puddle - most of them still inside their spiky green cases - you can see the one the left has split to show the shiny brown conker inside.
This is the first year that I haven't had a houseful of conkers at this time of year - the boys used to gather them obsessively - must be a sign they are growing up. But I couldn't resist putting a few in my pockets!
@sue biz conkers are the fruit of the horse chestnut tree - they are about the size of a small tomato, dark and solid as if made of polished wood - they are beautiful - kids in the UK collect them at this time of year and traditionally would thread one on a string and have conker fights with them - knocking them together and seeing who can break the other's conker - I'm not sure conker fights are quite as common as they used to be, but kids also just like to collect them and see who can find the biggest etc!
Conker fights aren't as common, I think because a lot of schools have banned them. :-( I think they're beautiful though and I love this photo of them. Apparently, they will repel spiders if you put them in the corners of a room. Don't know if that's true though...
I love this picture! Around here we more often find the horse chestnuts on the ground once they've broken free of their husk. I've never heard of conkers and when I read some info on it I was chuckling the entire time. I don't think I'll share this one with any of the grandkids. May give them too many ideas!
Until this year, following the English participant's photos, I'd never heard of "Conkers" and the delight they seem to bring! (Nor that "Corn" is "Wheat"...or visa versa!) Let's hear it for the broad education this site provides! I like the way you see these dangerous looking creatures as alien life forms, for, as one unfamiliar with them, I could find myself believing that!
I love the photo and the title Helen HA! We have a conker tree right outside our gate and sometime the boys fight over the conkers and I have to go out there and tell 'em to jog along as they upset the dogs in the neighbourhood with their arguing :)
This is very interesting. I have seen "conker" photos on other postings recently here on 365 but I have not ever seen in nature. I guess we don't have chestnut trees near me.
October 7th, 2010
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