Got to love a nice well run local library like this one.
Directions
Now for a bit of weaving between public community buildings. Once through the trees, turn right, cross over William street and follow the road until it turns into a pedestrian walkway. Keep to the left and go as far as you can until you hit a wall. Turn right and within seconds you will end up by the side of Commercial Drive’s public library. Go in to explore local events and goings on. Keep walking east, up a few steps and back on to Commercial Dr. Look across to Napier street and the location of our next tree lined street and featured tree: The Horse Chestnut.
Horse Chestnuts line either side of the street
Horse Chestnut
Proper Name: Aesculus hippocastanum
Common Name: Horse Chestnut, Conker Tree
Description: In early spring big sticky buds appear followed by palmate leaves (see below). Beautiful white candle-like flowers follow in spring before being replaced by conkers in autumn. Such a lot of action makes this tree easy to identify year round.
Defining Feature: Everything! The leaf shape is so unique, like fingers joined at the palm (hence palmate). Huge upright flowers in spring are unlike any other and then you have the conkers: The seed of this tree is packaged in its own little green spiky capsule. And what eventually pops out is a beautiful shiny brown nut-like seed with a lighter colour patch on the base. They are impossible to walk past without a fondle.
Big palmate leaves separate into individual leaflets when fall. And conkers pop out of their shells like magic.