The Horse Chestnut candles are lighting up early this year.

The Horse Chestnut candles are lighting up early this year. I really enjoy seeing them! In Essex we normally see them at the start of May, however they are here already, at the end of April.

Castle Park in Colchester is the location of this image. Demonstrating that the candles are early this year, I captured this image in late May 2015. There are lots of trees along the banks of the stream at the foot of the hill in the park. You can walk right up to them.

This close up portrait image of the candle shows the flowers to have a fluffy texture. The white flower contrasts nicely with the out of focus greenery in the background. The ribs of some of the ovate leaves are also in focus

The Horse Chestnut is tree of the month on the Countryfile website. It says, “The leaves of the horse chestnut appear early in spring, unfurling like the hand of a giant whose great fingers straighten in response to the warming sun. It is not native, having been imported from Turkey in the 16th century, but still it is entwined within our culture – not least in autumn, when children search so eagerly for its fallen treasures.” I am sure we all remember playing conkers at school!

White and pink flower pyramids appear on the branches and look like candles. They look like candles on a Christmas Tree, suggesting a reason for the tree’s alternative name, the candle tree. It is a great joy to see them appear, it’s a sign that summer is on the way!

Equipment: Sony SLT-A65V – Tamron 16-300 lens

Settings f7.1, 1/50, ISO 100