Horse Chestnuts in Spring

Already the majestic Horse Chestnuts are bearing spires of orchid like flowers and whorls of leaves that recall greek anthemia, a design often appearing as an architectural motif in old buildings (back when builders took pride in their work).

By fall the tiny delicate flowers will have turned into those beautiful glossy nuts inside spikey shells. Although poisonous and unpalatable, they look very tempting. They can be used as soap, however.