Heralding spring on a windy day

Depicted here is a close-up of the harbinger of spring, which most of us gladly welcome.

Silver maple trees will bloom in spring before most other trees. A reddish tinge surrounding the outer limbs of the tree is visible at quite a distance. The setting sun shining through the limbs of a silver maple in bloom is quite beautiful.

Shown here are actual flowers close enough to see the stamen. This sight will only last for a few days on a particular tree. Soon to follow will be clumps of paired winged seeds. A single silver maple will produce thousands of them. A child may be entertained by breaking apart the pairs and tossing them into the air.

This tree is also called a water maple or a swamp maple. It may grow to over 75 feet tall. It is sometimes used in furniture making but generally is not good for lumber. Although the wood is brittle and limbs will break easily in a storm, it is often planted as a shade tree because it is one of the fastest growing trees within its eastern US range.

Wind was a challenging factor in getting this photograph. I had to wait for it to stop.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo.