Sticky buds

There’s a fabulous Horse-chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, bud above me. It’s such a deep red colour. It looks like a moth chrysalis.

Similar to a moth chrysalis it’s undertaking a great change and will soon sprout forth and burst. It looks the same colour as the horse chestnuts it will produce at the end of the year.

I remember these buds being sticky. I must pop back and check. There’s an essential glue which allows them to expand rapidly and keeps everything together until it’s safe enough to emerge.

Can you feel the sticky buds on your fingers?