Every spring of the year I look for the red blush of color that happens when the Maple trees trot our their pretty garments to welcome the reawakening of the world.
In my mind I think about the trees like this: Maples start the year with pretty garments of redish pink blooms and end their growing season with leaves deeper in scarlet color but no less beautiful than the spring garment they started out with.
There’s a small set of woods in one of the pastures I pass on my last quarter of a mile home. The group of trees draws your eye because over the years cattle have kept their undersides all trimmed to the same height and the road curves just as you pass the fence that lines the area. Right in the middle of the small copse of trees is a towering Maple. Each year the blush of Maple leaves grabs my eye as I come from work reminding me that spring really is here.
I took the photo above from my front porch. I added the circles to highlight the Maple garments I can see sprinkled throughout the woods on the ridge across from us. The large circle surrounds a towering Maple that grows right beside Pap’s big garden. It’s roots grow deep in the Stamey Branch gathering the moisture it needs to complete its circle of life as the seasons change in this Appalachian holler.
Tipper
The Maples are beautiful this year, but to us North Alabamaians, it means two things, Turkey season, and or Crappie fishing, unfortunately I don’t do either anymore. But got good memories.
Tipper,
The Maple whirly-gigs (winged seed pods) are growing larger and some beginning to dry on our Maple trees out back…the squirrels don’t care if they are quite dry! They travel out to the thinnest limb or hang upside down from another limb to reach them…Sometimes they just cut off a bunch or two, run down the tree and pick them up and eat them…They are so comical when a pod “looks greener on the other (pasture) limb. It’s like they can’t stand it until they stretch their body out so far and nearly lose their balance trying to get at it! I really don’t care, if they will stay out of my sunflower feeders…When the Maple seed pods begin to ripen is about the only time the squirrels ignore the sunflower seeds!
Our chipmunks have been on a roll with their insistent chipping sound. Seems to go on forever before another chipmunk gets their attention. OR…they see the shadow of the Peregrine Falcon or Red Tail Hawk. Those predators usually shut them up for the day!
I love the White Dogwood (petticoats) as much as I love thd Maple red (garments) and the long (brown shirts) of last years Beech trees! HA Oh, don’t we love our mountain descriptions!
Great Post Thanks Tipper,
PS….Waiting on storms for today…with a chance of hail…in other words (“All hail my break loose!”)
That was a sayin’ from my kin…if something didn’t go quite right then “All hell was going to break loose!” HA
Tipper,
While reading your opening, I realized this is one of the reasons I enjoy the Blind Pig and the Acorn so much. I love the way you talk about the Simple things and in our Mountains. You can search the World over and the beauty if right here.
Easter is nearing and we should be Thankful! …Ken
Tipper, you take the very best pictures. Thank you for letting me enjoy spring a little extra!
Copse, huh? You been reading the dictionary again? I had to look that one up.
I saw some blooming dogwoods yesterday over at Flat Gap. Just to double check I went last night to ask the final authority on the arrival of spring here, the peep frogs at Rhodhiss Lake. The whole choir was out and in full voice.
As I sit here on this stormy morning looking out the window watching the woods come to life with green and white and patches of red I feel so blessed to live where I do. In a couple of weeks we will be under the canopy of green leaves that transforms our woods into a mysterious and magical place because they are so dense you can no longer see very far. I took my boys fishing last evening and we had a great time. The fish were biting and we came home with a stringer of fat bluegills. I love spring because not only does nature come to life, I feel I come to life as well.
That red blush of color is breathtaking…in more ways than one. Spring is definitely my favorite season as most days are spent outdoors watching the trees come to life. My allergy doctor advised me to stay indoors this time of year but I’m willing to take my punishment.
I also love those early Maple reds. Check out my blog post showing how vibrant they can appear on a clear horizon looking toward South Carolina. http://www.blueridgeimpressions.org Vann
nothing more beautiful than spring in the mountains!
I am a maple watcher to. They are the indicator I use most to know spring has come. Somehow this year it seems they have been redder in both bloom and seed than I have ever seen them before and closer to their fall color. I do not think it is just me.
By the way, in the ‘How Does My Garden Grow’ post I noticed the red maple bloom in the background.
No where is as beautiful this time of year.
There is nothing in the world more beautiful than our gentle yet majestic mountains when they dawn their spring dresses with the maples leading the parade with red!
There really is NOTHING more beautiful than spring in the mountains..unless it’s the fall in the mountains, now there is some colors. There is also the stately majesty of the trees standing tall in the dead of winter with no dress at all! Then there is the summer with nothing but lush green as far as you can see!
I guess I just love the mountains no matter what they are wearing. LOL!