October 14

The big buckeye tree in front of the school has been dropping its large seeds for a couple of weeks. I walked down this afternoon with a small backpack to gather a few dozen to keep, mostly just an excuse to take a stroll in town on such a fine October day.

Most of the seed has fallen, and they are largely split – the inner nut having been separated from the outer husk. The latter gets your attention – about the size of a golf ball, with rather nasty spikes all around it. A curious thing really, designed perhaps to protect the inner nut from scavengers like squirrels? But if so, why are most split upon the ground, easily allowing any predators access to the nut. Perhaps the spikes help to break apart any leaf mold or humus or soil, thereby giving the nut a better chance to find purchase until next spring.

The nut itself is quite pretty, the color of darkened wood that has been heavily varnished, save for the singular light spot which conspicuously marks the buckeye all its own.