This is so fascinating! It’s mostly evergreens where I live, but we did plant a couple maples in the yard a few years ago. I’ll be looking lore closely at them.
As I drafted this, I actually thought about the westerners and their lack of maples. Your common maple, Rocky Mountain Maple, flowers about when the leaves emerge (I think), probably in May. (I think they're "perfect" flowers -- bisexual. But, yeah, if you happen to be near any transplanted Red or Silver maples, you might see this! But also watch for flowering conifer cones!
I will look! And yes, I've tried to pay closer attention to the conifers. With this inspiration, will do so earlier in the season. usually I just starting noticing when they show the bright new green needles.
Thank you for spotlighting the Red Maple flowers, and teaching us about their interesting poly aspects, which I didn’t know. They’re my favorite part of early spring. Yesterday here in DC the red maple flowers, which are in a riot here right now, were vibrating scarlet against the bright blue sky. I point them out to people at every opportunity.
Back at home in Maine I am seeing the breasts of male pheasants and the entire plumage of the male cardinals burnished and glowing.....for the ladies. The big maple in the neighbor’s yard was covered with snow but the ends of the twigs are swollen and ready for action.
What a beautiful way to celebrate Earth Day. Thank you Bryan! So glad to read someone talking about all the reds of spring. The best time of year to see immediately where poison ivy is growing! A question: Is the source of all this red pigment in plants anthocyanins, including in the maple flowers? Or is the red of these flowers produced by something else?
Thanks Bryan. How I love those tiny early red flowers welcoming us to another spring. M.
Coming next month to Vermont! :-)
Heralded by the Corylus cornuta, in all its tiny glory.
Yep, another of springtime's 50 shades of red. :-)
Much sweeter than grey.
This is so fascinating! It’s mostly evergreens where I live, but we did plant a couple maples in the yard a few years ago. I’ll be looking lore closely at them.
As I drafted this, I actually thought about the westerners and their lack of maples. Your common maple, Rocky Mountain Maple, flowers about when the leaves emerge (I think), probably in May. (I think they're "perfect" flowers -- bisexual. But, yeah, if you happen to be near any transplanted Red or Silver maples, you might see this! But also watch for flowering conifer cones!
I will look! And yes, I've tried to pay closer attention to the conifers. With this inspiration, will do so earlier in the season. usually I just starting noticing when they show the bright new green needles.
Thank you for spotlighting the Red Maple flowers, and teaching us about their interesting poly aspects, which I didn’t know. They’re my favorite part of early spring. Yesterday here in DC the red maple flowers, which are in a riot here right now, were vibrating scarlet against the bright blue sky. I point them out to people at every opportunity.
You've just made my day, Lisa. (Sorry I didn't have time to say hello when I was in D.C. Next time!)
Glad to hear it... and too bad but I was slammed anyway. Is there going to be a NE DSA meeting this this year? Hope so
Back at home in Maine I am seeing the breasts of male pheasants and the entire plumage of the male cardinals burnished and glowing.....for the ladies. The big maple in the neighbor’s yard was covered with snow but the ends of the twigs are swollen and ready for action.
Some serious crimson there, Kathie. Thanks for the report!
What a beautiful way to celebrate Earth Day. Thank you Bryan! So glad to read someone talking about all the reds of spring. The best time of year to see immediately where poison ivy is growing! A question: Is the source of all this red pigment in plants anthocyanins, including in the maple flowers? Or is the red of these flowers produced by something else?