Jeff, perhaps yours were the horse chestnuts:  http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/?section=species&id=64 shows that there is no danger in handling, but DO NOT EAT.  If you know anything about warfarin, (rat poison), you will understand the concern around ingestion or eating.

 

Flowers:  Regular chestnut as shown in Jan's photo:  http://www.ontariopics.com/NiagaraFalls/Flowers/chestnut-flower-7050.html

              Horse chestnut, which are a concern:  http://www.arkive.org/horse-chestnut/aesculus-hippocastanum/image-A17806.html  It looks like the leaf size may be bigger, too.

 

Pat and the menagerie
http://andtheboys.blogspot.com/

----- Original Message -----

From: j*@cox.net

To: i*@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 3:17 PM

Subject: Re: [iris-photos] Help with mystery nut - part 1

I don’t remember blooms like that on Ohio buckeyes  --  although I admit it’s been awhile.  Maybe white or beige ones and smaller.  --  Griff

 

From: b*@cybermesa.com

Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 5:46 PM

To: i*@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [iris-photos] Help with mystery nut - part 1

 

 

For the sake of comparison, here are a couple of photos of a buckeye tree in bloom at the Denver Botanic Gardens the May just past.   It is likely an Ohio buckeye.  I don't think it was labeled.  Someone of the strollers in the garden identified it for me.  I think it is really beautiful.  Let's hope your daughter's is as beautiful.
Betty Gunther
Los Alamos

On 10/20/2012 9:25 AM, Jan Lauritzen wrote:

 

Thank you, Peggy.  We went to Wikipedia and learned that they are definitely poisonous.  That is one of the reasons I wanted to identify the nut.  I like to know what is unsafe in the yard.

Thanks again,

Jan in Chatsworth

 

---

From: dpmallen tds.net d*@tds.net
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 3:50 AM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] Help with mystery nut - part 1

 

 

Do not eat the buckeyes - they are poisonous.  Peggy

On Sat, Oct 20, 2012 at 1:36 AM, Jan Lauritzen <j*@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

Hi Kent,

Didn't realize that there was a California Buckeye.  My daughter is checking Google images as I type.  She says "There's a really good chance that you are correct."  Ours do not have the spines on the seed pods like the Western and Ohio seem to have. 

Thank you so much. 

Jan in Chatsworth

 

---

From: Kent Pfeiffer <k*@gmail.com>
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 10:00 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] Help with mystery nut - part 1

 

 

It's a buckeye, probably a California Buckeye (Aesculus californica).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_californica

On 10/19/12, Jan Lauritzen <j*@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> My daughter bought a house last June. We have been watching a tree produce
> what we, at first, thought was some kind of fruit. Then we thought it might
> be an almond but the leaves didn't look right. They have been getting
> bigger and bigger and now are splitting into 3 parts at the end of the
> fruit. Inside is something which, to me, looks like it resembles some kind
> of chestnut. However, we are in Southern California and I never even see
> Chestnuts except a few in the market in December.
>
>
> Would really like to know what we have. If you can help, thank you ahead of
> time.
>
>
> Jan in Chatsworth
>