Tree Watching: Recognizable Maple Leaves

My "adopted" maple tree with recognizable leaves and flowers

I wouldn’t be honoring the spirit of Arbor Day if I didn’t make a special visit to my “adopted” trees.

My maple trees have now sprouted new leaves with their distinctive pointed shape.  It looks like a single maple bud opens into both flowers and leaves.  The flowers have been evident for a week or so, but I am just now seeing new leaves.  Each bud seems to support several (five or so) leaves plus dozens of little flowers.  It’s really quite fascinating to notice all this production from one bud.  The entire tree is just sprouting with new growth.

Maple buds with lots of flowers, but with leaves just starting to emerge.

Here you can see some leaves have opened.

Just look at all this new growth!

The entire package -- bud, flowers, and leaves.

Looking up into "my" maple tree.

My “adopted” willow tree has been leafing out, too.  The bedraggled pussy willow buds are less prominent.

New willow leaves

A few pussies among the new leaves