I remember when I first took a close look at a Sugar Maple flower in spring. I didn't know what I was looking at in spite of teaching students about identifying trees for 40 years! Now I watch for the maple flowers to give the trees that yellowy-green look at this time of year every May.
So you might think these are leaves emerging on this tree, but they're not; these are the tree's flowers, which come first.
As you get closer and closer you realize these do not look like leaves, though there are emerging leaves among them. These are the flowers that will ultimately produce the seeds in the form of maple keys.
I had to go down the street to the next Sugar Maple to show you these up close. You can see the tiny stamens protruding below the calyx of each flower, held on thin stems 2" long.
I think these are just the neatest things!
This branch waving against the sky is right here in our own back yard. This is certainly not a close-up, but you can still see the dangling flower clusters.
Beautiful, delicate, and gorgeous in your last photo against the pure azure sky.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI need fabric your sky colour for my Canadian Goose wall hanging. But I have time to find it before the pattern arrives.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and love the bright blue sky.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself just a twitch more educated now. ✅
ReplyDeletePerfect!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures.
ReplyDeleteI'm told that there are a few Sugar Maples around here. planted as ornamental trees, but to my knowledge I haven't seen any.
ReplyDeleteAren’t maple flowers delightful! I enjoy pointing them out to my friends, who seem unable to consider flowers can be green, and then forget all about them until I explain all over again next year.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I've learned something new today.
ReplyDeleteBeauty before the leaves arrive. The trees tease us!
ReplyDeleteWe had sever sugar maples in our yard in southwest MIssouri. We do not remember seeing flowers. Research shows possibly they were not old enough or environmental conditions were not correct for flowering. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice!
DeleteYou have made me go out and check on our two closest Sugar Maples. In our case, all the branches are high up, so difficult to see the detail, and the branches of the ones back in the bush are way, way up. Curiously, although these particular two trees are about 100 yards away from each other, one is much more advanced in its bloom than the other. The Red Maples are way ahead of them.
ReplyDeleteGlad I inspired you!
DeleteI never noticed that, and we even have a few sugar maples on our property. Stunning photos!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see, I enjoyed your photographs and what a super blue sky too.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
very pretty and i LOVE the close ups!! tell the mrs. i said happy mothers day, i suspect we would be good friends!!
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful tree.
ReplyDelete