The Most Painful Part of a New York Autumn Is Here

It's been a long time since I experienced something as painful as picking up the ball of razor-sharp spikes in my backyard in Newburgh.

Living in the Hudson Valley for as long as I have, I was surprised that I had never found one of these tiny weapons before. After some digging, however, I found out that these needle balls were just another side effect of autumn in New York.

Painful "Spike Balls" in the Hudson VAlley

Fall in the Hudson Valley can be challenging for several reasons, but the constant inundation of falling leaves is at the top of the list. It seems like as soon as your yard is raked clean, a gust of wind comes and covers your grass once again. Now, an actual hazard has joined the fray.

Spiky Shells from a Chestnut Tree

The spike balls, which resemble tiny baby hedgehogs, are actually the outer shells of chestnuts. The good news is that even though you might draw blood when you pick one up, the chestnuts inside are edible. There's a very special way to get the nuts from inside its spiky exterior.

How to Safely Open Chestnuts

Chestnuts are easiest to open after they begin to crack. Then, it's suggested to either open them with your feet ("stand on the husk, one foot on each side, until it splits and the chestnuts pop out") or by simply handling them with thick gloves.

Japanese Chestnut vs. American Chestnut

The chestnuts found in the Hudson Valley are most likely from a Japanese chestnut tree, as the American chestnut was nearly wiped out by a fungus in the early 1900s. Another spiky nut, however, is poisonous and should not be eaten.

Horse Chestnut Trees in New York

Similar to chestnuts, seeds of the horse chestnut tree, called conkers (above), are also covered in spikes. Unlike the chestnut, conker shells have smaller, stubby spikes, and the nut inside is poisonous to both humans and dogs.