Thank you for re-ignighting my interest in maple flowers. They are worth spending more time with as in the past their parts have confused me. Details are important. And tracking changes through the years. I think I remember seeing them visited by birds and insects. These trees are in my woods and it is a safe walk for me now as the snow and ice have receded. I hope your healing proceeds at a good pace and you are out on your trails soon. PT, although painful, really does help. Best wishes and thanks for today's essay.
Hi Bryan ! I'm sad about your knee. I which you what we call in french «un prompt et complet rétablissement». And bravo for that article ! Every year, I like to observe those maple flowers and other tree flowers. In just a few days, the flowers of the Silver Maple will be the first ones to celebrate a new Spring as the first migratory birds will bring us their joy. La nature est merveilleuse en surface et en profondeur !
Merci beaucoup, Michel. It is so nice to hear from you. You have been watching maple flowers for many decades. I assume you're seeing them flower much earlier compared to years ago?
Just this morning I was looking upwards wondering when the red and sugar maples would begin to show off a bit of their early season color. I had not noticed the red/orange differential before, but this year will pay a bit more attention. Of course, when I see the hint of lime'ish green I pull my taps.
Thanks, Stacy. As you no doubt know, after the red comes kind of a microseason of yellow flowers -- mostly sugar maples. As I recall, leaves start to bud out soon after sugar maples flower. But maybe you pull taps when the sugar maple flower buds swell and just barely open up?
It's funny -- we talk about "buddy syrup," right? Maybe it's flower buds causing it -- and not leaf buds?
I'll have to pay more attention this year as to the timing. There is a stand of maples near the house, and I use them as the gauge (regardless of the larger stand which is shadier). All I notice is the color, not the reason for the color. I'll check back in a few weeks with my findings. 🍁Thank you for the prompt to be more attentive.
When I first read this post in your newsletter years ago I was suffering some of the worst SAD of my life going. After reading this I walked Hubbard Park every day examining every maple bloom I could find (my dog was very patient with me). It’s now an annual tradition I share with friends. Thank you for helping me find my sense of wonder that year.
Be patient with yourself as you heal. Unlike maples, knees are not one of nature’s elegant designs.
Oh, I'm so glad to hear this, Michelle. Thanks. And if you're so inclined, please keep me posted on what you're seeing in the park. I hope to be back there on the new knee soon!
Of course! I can report that up here on the cliff the ravens are repairing their nests, the Merlin is back on its overlook oak, skunks are stirring, and I heard the brown creepers singing for the first time this week. the maples can’t be too far behind!
How fun to find this repeat article— like running into an old friend. So, old friend, stay on top of the pain meds, the worst is almost over, and the body has an amazing ability to heal.
Last week while walking at one of my favorite parks here in Hannibal after several weeks of below freezing and a few times below zero temperatures (unusual for Missouri), plus snow, I looked down on the ground and saw the red blossoms. Then I looked up but didn't see much. Did the flowers drop prematurely due to the cold? Do other trees have red bunched up flowers or is it really only the maples which are so red?
Red Maple is indeed the big red of spring in eastern North America, dropping out at the Great Plains and mountain regions, then showing up a bit on the West Coast. It thins out in MO -- but should be flowering in some parts of the state now! And, yeah, the male flowers (not females) do drop to the ground. You can see the spent stamens on them.
Having just reached my 4 months out from TKR surgery, I am offering words of empathy and encouragement. Do the exercises and PT with gusto. you will get there, but it does take time.
My journals are deeply rooted in nature and life, reflecting my strong connection with the natural world. Since my thoughts often align with nature, I believe associating with like-minded people and working together would be a meaningful and fulfilling path.
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I love your phrase “vernal opportunity”.
I might even have gone with "vernal carnal opportunity!" 😀
Also, I got a new knee on 2/14. I feel your pain, but improvement is rapid.
Yay! Yep, this is my second. (I'm so glad we're bipedal -- I wouldn't want a third or fourth.) Glad you're improving!
Stunning photographs. I wish I had a Naturalists scientific mind.
Oh, but the many dimensions of your mind -- I myself wish I had some of that.
Thank you for re-ignighting my interest in maple flowers. They are worth spending more time with as in the past their parts have confused me. Details are important. And tracking changes through the years. I think I remember seeing them visited by birds and insects. These trees are in my woods and it is a safe walk for me now as the snow and ice have receded. I hope your healing proceeds at a good pace and you are out on your trails soon. PT, although painful, really does help. Best wishes and thanks for today's essay.
Thanks for the good wishes, Sue. I never did investigate to what extent those early maples are also insect-pollinated.
Anyway, after the red phase, we'll go into the yellow phase — mostly Sugar Maples in flower!
Lovely photos and clear prose.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Thanks so much, Catherine. In the insane pain phase now -- but looking forward toward spring nonetheless!
Hope your knee heels soon.
Yeah, we gotta portage those 70-pound Grumman canoes!
Those were the days.
The honeybees are humming in our red maple. How do I always seem to forget, these are among the very first flowers to bloom?
Yay! I guess they're taking pollen from the male flowers?
I sent you a couple of photos via chat for confirmation.
Hi Bryan ! I'm sad about your knee. I which you what we call in french «un prompt et complet rétablissement». And bravo for that article ! Every year, I like to observe those maple flowers and other tree flowers. In just a few days, the flowers of the Silver Maple will be the first ones to celebrate a new Spring as the first migratory birds will bring us their joy. La nature est merveilleuse en surface et en profondeur !
Merci beaucoup, Michel. It is so nice to hear from you. You have been watching maple flowers for many decades. I assume you're seeing them flower much earlier compared to years ago?
Et oui, la nature est notre salut !
I just saw some red maple flowers this afternoon. Yay! Hope you have a swift recovery.
Glad to hear it -- from some place south of Vermont. It's nice to know that the red is on the way northbound!
Just this morning I was looking upwards wondering when the red and sugar maples would begin to show off a bit of their early season color. I had not noticed the red/orange differential before, but this year will pay a bit more attention. Of course, when I see the hint of lime'ish green I pull my taps.
Thanks, Stacy. As you no doubt know, after the red comes kind of a microseason of yellow flowers -- mostly sugar maples. As I recall, leaves start to bud out soon after sugar maples flower. But maybe you pull taps when the sugar maple flower buds swell and just barely open up?
It's funny -- we talk about "buddy syrup," right? Maybe it's flower buds causing it -- and not leaf buds?
I'll have to pay more attention this year as to the timing. There is a stand of maples near the house, and I use them as the gauge (regardless of the larger stand which is shadier). All I notice is the color, not the reason for the color. I'll check back in a few weeks with my findings. 🍁Thank you for the prompt to be more attentive.
Beyond binary.
Nature’s sexuality.
Ourselves included.
We contain multitudes.
When I first read this post in your newsletter years ago I was suffering some of the worst SAD of my life going. After reading this I walked Hubbard Park every day examining every maple bloom I could find (my dog was very patient with me). It’s now an annual tradition I share with friends. Thank you for helping me find my sense of wonder that year.
Be patient with yourself as you heal. Unlike maples, knees are not one of nature’s elegant designs.
Oh, I'm so glad to hear this, Michelle. Thanks. And if you're so inclined, please keep me posted on what you're seeing in the park. I hope to be back there on the new knee soon!
Of course! I can report that up here on the cliff the ravens are repairing their nests, the Merlin is back on its overlook oak, skunks are stirring, and I heard the brown creepers singing for the first time this week. the maples can’t be too far behind!
How fun to find this repeat article— like running into an old friend. So, old friend, stay on top of the pain meds, the worst is almost over, and the body has an amazing ability to heal.
Every knee replacement gives me a new relationship with pain. (But I'm glad to be bipedal.)
Last week while walking at one of my favorite parks here in Hannibal after several weeks of below freezing and a few times below zero temperatures (unusual for Missouri), plus snow, I looked down on the ground and saw the red blossoms. Then I looked up but didn't see much. Did the flowers drop prematurely due to the cold? Do other trees have red bunched up flowers or is it really only the maples which are so red?
Red Maple is indeed the big red of spring in eastern North America, dropping out at the Great Plains and mountain regions, then showing up a bit on the West Coast. It thins out in MO -- but should be flowering in some parts of the state now! And, yeah, the male flowers (not females) do drop to the ground. You can see the spent stamens on them.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=28&quality_grade=research&subview=map&taxon_id=48098&verifiable=any
... and here's a Feb record (female) from just north of Springfield:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/200461660
Maybe I’ll start making my own I-Naturalist entries!
I ❤️ iNat!
Informative and delightful! Thank you!
Perfect word for maple flowers: "delightful." Thanks, Mary!
Having just reached my 4 months out from TKR surgery, I am offering words of empathy and encouragement. Do the exercises and PT with gusto. you will get there, but it does take time.
Hi.
My journals are deeply rooted in nature and life, reflecting my strong connection with the natural world. Since my thoughts often align with nature, I believe associating with like-minded people and working together would be a meaningful and fulfilling path.
Subscribed 💛
Do Subscribe
Hi! I’d love to share my journey of nature, culture, and storytelling with you 💜
I’ve just posted my latest piece on Substack, and your thoughts or a simple subscription would truly encourage me.
Your support means a lot in keeping this journey alive.
Would love for you to check it out!
https://open.substack.com/pub/sujithsudarsan?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=59sob6