10/18/10 HYBRIDS

A CRISP DAWN

THE MAPLE TREE IS A HYBRID (my truck is not)

Monday, 8:00 AM. 38 degrees, with reports of 33 degrees down the hill. Wind calm, the sky mostly clear. The barometer predicts partly cloudy skies. The plants definitely come in today!
The twin hybrid maples in the front yard are gorgeous again this year. A hybrid between the silver and red maple, they are fast growing but seem much sturdier than the former, with an enhanced color of the latter. Such hybrids occur in nature as well, but these trees are horticultural introductions, Acer x ‘Autumn Blaze.’ The x denotes a hybrid, and the apostrophes that it is a named or patented plant.
The orange leaves of the smoke tree and the crimson of the maple are a nice color combination.