Red Maple (Acer rubrum) leaves just emerging from their winter slumber. When emerging, and often in fall, they exhibit this bold red coloring. This twig, emerging from the mossy trunk, nearly glows in the early morning sunlight. Known for its tolerance of a wide variety of soils, this particular tree grows on a wet hillside. Often found in wetlands they also tolerate dry soils and can be found as far south and west as Texas to all the way north to Newfoundland. Although not as productive as Sugar Maple, their sap produces excellent maple syrup. Occasionally in early spring I will spot an icicle forming at the tip of a broken branch from sap leaking out. The icicle makes a sweet treat on a cool spring day.
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