Tuesday, May 3, 2011

4-29-11 Le Sacre du Printemps

Last Thursday morning (4-28-11) the woods along the trail up Mt. Skinner were ablaze with these tiny golden beech leaf buds with rain drops clustered along their length and making them look festive.

Some were beginning to bed, or leaf, and tiny juvenile leaves were unfolding from the tightly corseted buds.

Each bud contained multiple leaves. The most I counted was eight leaves in a bud.

The leaf clusters were eager to unfurl even though the day was cold and rainy.

Tiny sugar maples leaves were unfurling simultaneously with the beech.

Twenty four hours later, at 6:30 Friday morning, the beech leaves photographed Thursday had reached this stage.

And this cluster also photographed on Friday.

By Sunday, May 1st, they were nearly mature. And lovely.

Welcome back!

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