Spring’s Frequently Overlooked Gems

A familiar spring scene in Ashe is a photographer on his/her knees or laying flat on the ground with a colorful wildflower in the viewfinder while overhead trees are performing their own magic, so common and ubiquitous they are often ignored. Here Betty has pointed her camera up to capture the delicate first leafing of a striped maple tree. Here are her thoughts on the image:

In spring the bright red scales, the rosy sheen of the buds, and the soft green of opening leaves make this small understory tree a rival to any of the more famous and sought after wildflowers. Called a “woodland dryad” in one of my tree books, it is worth many repeat visits through the seasons to try and capture its elusive beauty. The flowers, which are opening now, are a brilliant canary yellow and I’ll be trying to capture them when the weather clears. In summer its leaves, the largest of any of the maples, cast a bright green glow in the deep shade, and in fall they turn a clear translucent gold. So I choose this photograph for my Photographer’s Choice – for spring. It’s not necessarily my best or favorite photo, but one I wanted to share with everyone as my homage to this lovely tree. Go find one and see for yourself!