Less Is More

by Connie Handscomb

Title

Less Is More

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

Beginnings of all things are small.
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

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Common Horse Chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum; Hippocastanum vulgare

We walk under the large boughs of this majestic tree, and enjoy the wind rustling through its leaves in the shade of the summertime. We play conkers with its fresh hard fruit in the autumn (note: this is not the tree we get the chestnuts from at Christmastime; those are from the sweet chestnut. The two trees are not even related. While they weren't fit for human consumption, they were a popular fodder for horses; hence its name. Additionally, along its branches are several marks in the shape of a horseshoe).

All is not lost, however. The horse chestnut bark and fruit is used medicinally: the bark, as a tonic and narcotic for fevers, or externally for ulcers. The fruits are used for rheumatism and neuralgia.

This tree grows very easily from seed, and we have done that ourselves: it grows very fast, too! It can grow 40 feet in 20 years. It also is blessed with longevity: the oldest dated trees in Britain were planted in 1664. The large tree originated in Turkey, and found favour in the west during Elizabethan times.

In the springtime, its blossoms are delicate and pretty, and we delight in the large pastel conical blooms. But did you know the chestnut blossom has long been considered an aphrodisiac? The Marquis de Sade and Socrates, amongst others, both believed in its tantalizing effects. To this effect: an ancient elixir for the bath follows -

100 g (4 oz) of fresh horse chestnut flowers in 1.2 litres (2 pints) boiling water. Pour the water onto the flowers and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, then add a pint to the bath water.


Sources:
Country Wisdom [R.Richardson]
The International Book Of Trees [H. Johnson]
A Modern Herbal [Grieve;Leyel]

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Captured in natural light; uncropped .... a combination of my original macro images combined to create a soft pastoral of blooms under the blue sky of a clear spring day ... nature in all its splendour ;)

Uploaded

June 12th, 2017

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