Maples in Bloom

Have you noticed a gentle wash of pink spreading over some tree branches? Those are red maples starting to bloom. Red maples are medium to large-sized trees that are especially common along lakes, ponds, streams, and other wetlands and are often the first trees to bloom in the spring.

From a distance the warm color of the red-maple flowers is a welcome change from the greyness of winter, and up-close, the flowers are lovely.