It seems that the 100-400 lens is encouraging me to look at spring buds more than usual.  I thought that I knew what a bud is, but there is more to it than I thought.  So I am seeing more each time I look through the lens.  Learning more too.

In many of the following it is usually worthwhile to click on the image, sometimes twice, to see more detail.  Return to this blog by clicking on the back button of your browser.

It wasn’t until I looked at the detail on this “opposite arrangement” of flowering buds on this Red Maple that I saw the start of a spider’s web on April 14, a  good clue that flying insects were in the air.

There is a nice explanation of the “pussy willow” here:

http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/flora/pwillow/Fpwillw1.html

Female and male on the same twig on the same plant.

What are those little dark spots that are emerging below?   Anthers?

Early stage of male catkins on Trembling Aspen …

Elderberries are very early bloomers!  There are many recipes for their fragrant flowers and for their sweet fruit.

Those little female catkins above the long male catkins will eventually form the cones that you see on the right.

Looks like a good crop this year:

Male catkins on the aspen are lengthening and opening up….

Close-ups ….

Click on this one to see  some pollen starting to accumulate on those sticky stigmata:

Earlier stage of Elderberry  … in the shade.

 

In the sun…

Now whole stamens are visible in the pussywillows ….

This Acer rubrum is blooming early because it is tight against a south facing rock.    PlantWatch has  links to some very nice photos of the progression of Red  Maple blossoms.

Spring is advancing quickly.   Time to get outside to enjoy it.

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