Do not let the nuts dry out very long before getting them planted. I have best results from harvesting them just as the husks start to split and planting immediately. They're at risk as well for theft from rodents. I usually hedge my bets on Ohio Buckeye by starting some in pots with wire over them, and burying some immediately outside into soft soil and leaf litter. I don't have to stratify A. pavia, and start them in the g'house in sand flats with 100% success rate........but I suspect A. carnea will need to be cold treated. I don't know if you could use any of the parental stock like A. pavia on which to graft but I suspect that chip or whip grafts would be successful if you can get compatible rootstock. If you could get mama tree to hang in there a couple years, you'd have scion stock or buds handy for your new seed-started rootstock. Idabean..........no, I didn't take offense at your comments. I think I took it like you meant it. I like it too when the whole peanut gallery chimes in with their thoughts on a subject. Horse chestnuts and buckeyes just happen to be one of my passions and some years I start upwards of a hundred trees. Some of my babies are all over this county, I suspect.

Rick, are you sure you are not incorrectly using the term "genotype" more as what a "phenotype" is? The genotype is the complete genetic material--whether expressed or not. The phenotype is what is actually expressed. I am also not sure if you are familiar with "ecotype" either. Although I agree with your comment about genetic adaptation taking time, the Fraxinus example can still be problematic in that regionally, a gene for cold hardiness for the tree may not be typically expressed in Georgia populations, and thus would perish in Minnesota. Although the gene IS in the Georgia ash trees, it can be turned off in that population (an ecotype); and thus, if a tree in Georgia was moved to MInnesota, it is quite possible it would perish if that specific tree does not have the gene completely turned on to create the proteins, blah blah to ensure harsher winter survival ability. A terrific example of the ecotype is Acer rubrum. A FLorida native ACer rubrum will FAIL survival in a MInnesota and a MN native Acer rubrum will perish if planted in Florida. Same genotype, different phenotype (as a definite ecotype within the species). In another example, it is recommended to not secure woody plant materials far out of your cold hardiness range. Every plant in a species is similar, but still has terrific genetic variation possibilities. Forsythias, for example, grow in a nursery in Tennessee may not have the same caliber of cold hardiness all across the number of plants. If there are 10 forsythia plants at a nursery in Nashville, they will all survive that zone 7 winter, but, it is very possible that 3 of those forsythias do not have the "cold hardiness gene for survival below -10", and thus, those particular plants WOULD perish in Minnesota, but still survive in Tennessee. If these 10 plants always grew in Tennesee, one would never know which truly was the hardy since they would not be naturally selected/killed off by an unlike -10 event there. In Human Terms--we all have hte SAME GENOTYPE (except those with true genetic abnormalities such as XXY, XO, etc), but the PHENOTYPE is different. The phenotype is what is physically expressed. I can guarantee that I have the same 99.99% genetic code in me as anyone on this board; BUT I likely will have some expressed gene here and there that will predispose me to a certain medical/deliterious condition as someone else may be totally protected from it because their code is expressed in their body so that they are immune. I also recall much uncertainty in human genetics from university coursework about the simple "genotype" as you put it, regarding the races. We all have the code to be very darked skinned or havea different shaped eye, etc. It's through developmental factors by the genes of hte parents, perhaps selected through adaptations that the PHYSICAL (phenotype)is different, but the genotype (the inherihent code of that species) is the same. Perhaps we are making the same point but with a different perspective. I even am confused now with my point--am I supporting your comment now or acutally arguing against it! ;) I didn't read your paper, it sounds as if it's conifer genetics. My point is the use of genotype versus phenotype (which I think you made a personal definition) and also the reality of ecotypes.

Molie and defrost, your rock encircled gardens are both very beautiful! Jane, that Salix integra was worth all the effort you put into caring for it. It looks so light and fluffy! Claire, your impressive rugosa rose bush is what I hope mine will become! I love your other roses, but my luck with growing roses of any other kind has not gone well. I think it is just too cold here for most of them. We visited the Calvin Coolidge homestead last year. It is not far from where we live, and at a slightly higher elevation than our house, so I have to figure that if the massive rugosa rose bush next to their preserved house can thrive, so can the same type of rose on our own property. Molie, you are quite right that the wading birds would dine on goldfish at your home! "Blue heron attack" is a recurring theme on the koi pond forums! I think our pool placed right next to our house and surrounded by open land is a deterrent, but there are many creatures always on the lookout for a free fish dinner. I haven't noticed birds drinking from the pool, but many insects find that the artificial lily pads and plants provide safe footing to land and drink. Of course any unfortunate enough to fall into the water will become fish food! We do also have our brook, surrounded by pussywillow bushes, so I imagine most birds find that a safer place to drink and/or bathe.

In USDA 5 you should probably plunge the pot(s) into bark or sand instead of leaving them sitting on top of the ground. And yes, you want to plant Aesculus seeds while they are fresh. A place I worked at some years ago was offering potted, flowering size named A. x carnea that I remember now as being designated as 'O'Neill Red'. The grower had clearly sent them a batch of mixed seedlings due to the variation within them, primarily of flower coloring - perhaps this remains common practice with this particular selection. Point being yours may turn out to be generally similar to the parent.