UNCOMMON OR MUNDANE, BOTH ARE BEAUTIFUL

MOUNTAIN MAPLE (JUST IN TIME FOR HOLLOWEEN)

MOUNTAIN MAPLE LEAF

BURNING BUSH (OVERUSED BUT STILL BEAUTIFUL)

SUGAR MAPLE ON OLD COURTHOUSE LAWN

Wednesday, 8:30 AM.  Wind NNW, light.  The sky is partly cloudy, with towering gray and black storm clouds in the northeast.  The humidity is 74%, the barometer steady at 29.96".  We had some precipitation last night which left a trace of snow on roofs and decks.  Some snow has been predicted but the atmosphere is probably too dry to produce much.  The Farmers' Almanac predicts cold and dry conditions through the end of the month.
   I have  mentioned mountain maple, Acer spicatum, before, but it is worth mentioning again.  The fall leaf coloration is spectacular, ranging from pumpkin orange (this year just in time for Holloween) to other typical maple leaf colors such as shades of red and yellow.  It is probably not rare but is not often seen, perhaps because it inhabits cool northern woods, along stream banks, cliffs and lake shores, places hard to traverse.  This one is in the woods on the east side of Tenth St., right along the road, between Old Military and Wilson Ave.  It is just a  shrub, tucked under a big old willow tree, but others deeper in the woods are small trees, standing out amongst other trees with their unusual fall color.
   Mountain Maple is native to the eastern forests  of Canada, New England and the Great Lake States, and in micro habitats as far west as Iowa.  It has attractive yellow flower spikes (thus its latin species name) and colorful red, winged maple seeds.  I have no experience with growing or transplanting it, but in the right location it would be a wonderful addition to a northern landscape.
   As uncommon as is the mountain maple, the burning bush, Euonymus alatus, an introduction from Asia,  is ubiquitous.  It is baldly overused but undeniably attractive in its fall attire. Uncommon or mundane, both are beautiful.