| #ffffff;" /> | | | | samaras, which are winged, one seed fruit are |
| Although maples are often thought of as the | | | | fondly nicknamed ‘helicopters’ |
| beauty of the North American woodlands, the | | | | because of the way they spin as they propel to |
| vast majority of the fifty or sixty species are | | | | the ground. Squirrels, chipmunks and birds like |
| natives of Asia, and chiefly the part which lies | | | | cardinals love to eat these |
| between the Himalayas and Japan. They are now | | | | ‘helicopter’ fruits, which take flight |
| native to North American but the origin lies in Asia. | | | | in the spring. The stems and twigs have reddish |
| They have been in North America for as far back | | | | tones; the buds and flowers are red; and in the |
| as one can go in history. Canada made the maple | | | | fall, the leaves turn an orangey-red to a scarlet |
| leaf its official symbol and it graces the Canadian | | | | red, hence the name was given to the Red |
| flag as well as the Canadian coat of arms. | | | | Sunset Maple. |
| In France, England, Japan, North America [to name | | | | The foliage is deciduous [broad-leafed shedding |
| a few countries], the popular maple tree is a | | | | foliage at the end of the growing season]. The |
| beautiful ornamental tree. It is fast growing and | | | | leaves are star-shaped with three primary veins |
| can grow to 20 – 60 feet tall with a | | | | that denote a maple leaf and can reach up to 6 |
| mature spread of 40-50 feet, but the average | | | | inches in diameter. In March as spring arrives, the |
| height is 20-40 feet. The crown of the maple is | | | | leaves are a pale, tender green that sometimes |
| somewhat ovular and symmetrical and will | | | | have a rusty red twinge for a few days before |
| broaden at maturity. Maples are one of the first | | | | they fully turn green. They become more brilliant |
| to blossom forth and thoughts of spring dance in | | | | in summer and a crimson orange to scarlet red in |
| our heads. This early blossoming draws many | | | | the fall, making the Red Sunset Maple one of the |
| kinds of pollinators and this attracts insect eating | | | | best for fall colors. As the tree prepares for |
| birds that feed on these pollinators, which helps | | | | winter which is normally in the months of |
| reduce damage caused by unwanted insects. | | | | September and October, the green leaves |
| The tiny red flowers grow in dense clusters and | | | | become the notable red that depicts a sunset. In |
| decorate the tree for approximately 4 weeks. | | | | the winter, the branch ends and twigs are a |
| They are most often five lobed, with one small | | | | pretty burgundy red. |
| lobe on each side of three large lobes. The | | | | |