Robert Davey

Autumn Haste

Every year the first leaves to turn are those of the horse chestnut. While other trees are still basking in summer, the horse chesnuts seem impatient to move on.

autumn gold
the rumour
that starts a rush

But this is not merely a charming quirk of the tree. Most horse chesnuts are plagued by a moth, whose caterpillars feast on the leaves throughout summer, causing them to die prematurely.

fool's gold the leaf miner moth