Life On A Quarter Acre

Began flowering about a week ago.

The center of the flowers turn orange after pollination.

Most of the flowers on our silver maple tree are male, but some branches have either female or perfect flowers.

Here are some samaras that are developing.

First flowers opened today.

On the north side of the yard.

First flowers today.

Dissected flower to determine floral characters.

First leaves coming out.

Fruits are single-seeded, covered with fine white hair, with sticky liquid droplets on sides.

The seeds are very sticky and easily moved by a slight breeze.

Length ~ 2 mm.

In northeast corner of yard.

Cone 110 mm, needles 25 mm, scale 20 mm

Fruit and seeds from plants in front garden (south side).

Seed, ~ 2mm.

We have many of these on the south side of the yard. Self-seeding.

In Northeast garden under apple tree

Associated Species: Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Crane's-Bill)

In front garden.

First flowers

Male plant with yellow flowers on the left.

Female plant with red flowers.

Male flowers.

Stamens are now exposed.

The male flowers are out.

I'm not sure how long they have been out, though, since I just noticed them today.

The apples are blooming.

I just noticed them today, though, so I'm not sure when they began to bloom.

This is the one on the west side of the south raspberry patch.

The male cones were releasing pollen when these pictures were taken.