In May 2011, after four years of life on McNutt's Island, we moved to Montreal. This blog remains, though, as a (sort of) daily record of our time on the island, and a winding path for anyone who would like to meander about among its magical places. For additional perspectives and insights I recommend Greg's book, Island Year: Finding Nova Scotia (2010), and my Bowl of Light (2012). I'll continue to post once in a while. If you do want to read this blog, one option would be to begin at the beginning of it (which is, as we all know, in blog-world, at the end), and read forward, concluding with the most recent entry. It's a journal, really, so it does makes more sense if you read it that way. But, you know, read it any way you like.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Swamp Maple

This beautiful tree is Swamp Maple, also called Red Maple. Its flowers are everywhere on the island, along the roadside, and glimmering from the forest among spruce and deadfall.
It is Nova Scotia's most abundant hardwood, since it grows well in swamps, bogs, softwood forests and rocky uplands. The early settlers tapped the Swamp Maple as well as the Sugar Maple when sugar was scarce. So we could try it! Deer browse on its winter twigs.

Soon its glory will subside into something that will appear, at first glance, more ordinary. But just for a moment we are able to see it for what it really is.




Information taken from Gary L. Saunders, Trees of Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests, 1970).




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2 comments:

Janet said...

Swamp maples are so lovely right now and then again in the fall their leaves will be scarlet and gold. The Indian Pear is about to bloom too and that will be stunning.
I have both near my house.

April 25, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

My husband's favorite tree, especially for it's color.

April 26, 2010 at 1:03 PM

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