John Bartram introduced Europe’s most widely spread maple tree to Philadelphia in the 1750s, and it’s probably best known for some seasonal features.
In summer, the Norway maple casts a deep leafy shade on the ground.
And kids like to peel open its ripening green samaras, pasting the sticky sides to their noses.
In late fall, the tree’s foliage is brilliant yellow.
And its browning seed pods helicopter down in copious amounts, seeming to fill every surrounding inch and crack of ground.
Now, in spring, with so many other trees in bloom, it can be easy to overlook the Norway maple’s green inflorescence.
Fortunately a gray squirrel happens along, nibbles off a twig, and lets it fall to the ground.
Then we get a better look at the clustered flowers, resting on the tree’s surfacing roots, amid the refuse of prior seasons.
April 26, 2012 at 11:56 pm
In Europe, we have seen them in their native habitat, and they dont have an invasive quality. Here in Philly, they are very invasive and shade out anything else, so that native tree seedlings like oaks and tulip trees and native maples etc, are unable to sprout or grow. The native herbaceous layer is also shaded out, as well as the shrub layer. it is a beautiful tree, but out of its ecosystem, it has become a degrading force in our already disturbed urban forests here in Philly. They leave no opportunities for a future native and diverse forest to grow. We pull out the seedlings and saplings. Cut down as many as we can with our hand tools, and have the helpful staff of Fairmount Park cut the bigger ones down and apply basal bark herbicide to some. Thanks for bringing up this tree in the LCC!
Sean at the Sanguineroot
April 29, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Sean, thanks for elucidating the invasive nature of Norway maples in Philly — all reasons why I briefly entertained naming the post “Bartram’s folly” before going another route. So I appreciate the enriching commentary and love reading what the Sanguine Root is up to at Morris Park.
April 20, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Lovely photos! Looks like you and I are on a similar adventure in life. I grew up in Philadelphia, went to Northeast High, Temple, Penn State…later Virginia Tech, where I discovered the mountains. Love this place, and my sense of the world framed in a sense of place. Glad that you are finding beauty in satisfaction in the place you live too! Thanks for stopping by my new blog!
April 22, 2012 at 11:51 am
I sure could relate to your anticipation and discovery of the trout lily.
http://wp.me/p2iPsX-e
And I definitely appreciate your sense of place.
Looking forward to seeing more!
April 20, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Love the juxtaposition of the two leaves…and so many different views of the grand Maple. Thanks!
April 22, 2012 at 11:37 am
My pleasure … it seems that things go through so many changes to make them what they are at any given moment. It’s fun to try and convey those phases when possible.
April 19, 2012 at 10:45 am
Beautiful as always. 🙂
April 19, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Thanks Robin (I must admit to arranging the leaf, seed, and flowers in that bottom group!).
April 17, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Beautiful! Love the first shots
April 19, 2012 at 12:04 am
Thanks! I thought those fall pics would come in handy one of these days.
April 15, 2012 at 7:53 pm
I really like Norway maple flowers. Unfortunately seeds follow the flowers, and this tree is making it onto many state invasive species lists. Soon you won’t be able to buy one anywhere, if you even can now.
April 15, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Yep, right now I’m looking at Norway maple on an invasive plants brochure from the Pennsylvania DCNR. There’s an asterisk denoting the tree has cultivars not known to be invasive, but it’s hard to imagine one without so many seeds.
April 15, 2012 at 10:09 am
Beautiful photos and great post!
April 15, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Thanks Lisa. I’ve always liked that overlapping red & yellow of autumn maples.