Species of Acer

Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)

I was walking through the nursery today, when a powerful shower pelted down pea-sized drops of cold rain. I ducked into greenhouse #21 for shelter, guiltily, for the rest of the crew continued to work outside. We get two springs at Buchholz Nursery: one inside greenhouses and the other outside. I couldn't help but notice that inside the maple buds were swelling and that tender leaves were beginning to emerge on some cultivars. That's about six weeks before the same occurs to those outside, and it's truly amazing the difference that a 6-mil sheet of poly can make.

I know it's way too early for many readers to think about spring, but I get anxious when I imagine the excitement to come. It caused me to fondly remember last fall's trip to Belgium. To help raise funds for the Maple Society, the plan was to hold a silent auction. My contribution was a photo book I produced called Species of Acer. A Canadian out-bid the field, and I suppose the book is now gathering dust on his office shelf. Not many hard copies were made because it was ridiculously expensive, but I thought I would send it to you…for free via this blog.

Full disclosure: not all photos are from Flora Wonder, nor do I grow all of the trees. It is simply a celebration of the species of Acer.

Everything on my website and blog is only made possible because of my employee Seth Helmer. Yes, he's a nerd, but a good guy, smart and hard-working, loyal, almost thirty and single, and would love to make you happy if you're about the same age, female, with decent looks. Seth has worked at Buchholz Nursery for nearly five years, and I will kill him if he ever leaves. No Seth, no blog.

Here, then, are photos from the book, the first half today and the remainder next week.

Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple)

Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)

Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple)

Acer buergerianum ssp. ningpoense (Ningpo Trident Maple)

Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple)

Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple)

Acer sinopurpurescens (Chinese Purple Maple)

Acer laevigatum (Nepal Maple)

Acer carpinifolium (Hornbeam Maple)

Acer macrophyllum (Big-leaf Maple)

Acer macrophyllum (Big-leaf Maple)

Acer acuminatum (Pointed-leaf Maple)

Acer barbinerve (Bristle-leaf Maple)

Acer morifolium (Yaku Maple)

Acer seiboldianum (Siebold Maple)

Acer pentaphyllum (Five-lobe Maple)

Acer pentaphyllum (Five-lobe Maple)

Acer davidii (David's Maple)

Acer davidii 'George Forrest' (George Forrest David's Maple)

Acer triflorum (Three-flower Maple)

Acer hyrcanum var. hyrcanum (Balkan Maple)

Acer truncatum (Shantung Maple)

Acer truncatum (Shantung Maple)

Acer japonicum (Japanese Maple)

Acer campbellii (Campbell's Maple)

Acer campbellii (Campbell's Maple)

Acer tegmentosum (Manchu Striped Maple)

Acer tegmentosum (Manchu Striped Maple)

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Acer shirasawanum var. tenuifolium (Thin-leaf Full Moon Maple)

Acer shirasawanum var. tenuifolium (Thin-leaf Full Moon Maple)

Acer argutum (Sharp-tooth Maple)

Acer caudatum (Pointed-leaf Maple)

Acer fabri (Faber's Maple)

Acer fabri (Faber's Maple)

Acer tsinlingense

Acer crataegifolium (Hawthorne Maple)

Next week part 2.