To show progression of changing colors, here's the Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii) that I posted recently. This photo was taken yesterday, about 2 weeks after the last posted photo of this tree. I'm completely enamored by this little stand of trees. It's probably because they confused me so much some years back when I'd never seen nor knew of a Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) and Red Maple (Acer rubrum) hybrid at the time. . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #freemanmaple #silvermaple #redmaple #acer #freemanii #saccharinum #rubrum #acerxfreemanii #acersaccharinum #acerrubrum #nativetrees #hybridtrees #cultivatedtrees (at Beverly, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGaKJUMhGs1/?igshid=1ecv9unpp9mx8

#tbt to the spring when this Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) was just coming into leaf. It's crazy how time seems to fly so fast at times... . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #norwaymaple #acer #platanoides #acerplatanoides #nonnativetrees #naturalizedtrees #throwback (at Peabody, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGJyzZBoYN/?igshid=15mgvf8j3ebeo

This photo came out a bit more chaotic than I'd prefer to post but! I realized that's exactly what looking up into a Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) looks like during early fall. Gingkos are unique in that typically, all the leaves on the tree begin to turn at the very same time. And the way they turn... it's as if the chlorophyll green slowly rolls back from the outer edge of each fan-shaped leaf, gently exposing the xanthophyll yellow. Usually, the colors of autumn foliage are present in leaves all season but the chlorophyll contained within the leaves hides the other pigments. Once the tree pulls back activity as cold weather approaches, the chlorophyll degrades and the hidden colors are revealed. . . . . . . . #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #ginkgo #biloba #ginkgobiloba #nonnativetrees #exotictrees (at Beverly, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGB8isPBodC/?igshid=mh1ebqv11mju

Taken last week, this is one of the Freeman Maples (Acer x freemanii) mentioned in the last post. I love how just the top of the canopy had started to turn red, with a suggestion of copper to golden yellow as the autumn red transitions to summer greens below. . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #freemanmaple #acer #freemanii #hybridtrees #cultivatedtrees #nativetrees (at Beverly, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF25U0oBnMU/?igshid=1ktghbv3zojhr

There's a small group of Freeman Maples (Acer x freemanii) along a main street that stumped me some years back. I was confused by their very Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) appearance - the shape and flow of the leaf margins and the silvery undersides that flitted about in the wind. But then I was confused by their red petioles, which is a trait of Red Maples (Acer rubrum), not Silvers. So I hit the books and was excited to discover that my initial IDs weren't completely wrong. These trees were both - a naturally occuring and sometimes cultivated hybrid known as the Freeman Maple. I believe that due to where these are located (urban planting, streetside on private property) that these specimens were ornamental purchases rather than nature's doing. . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #freemanmaple #silvermaple #redmaple #acer #freemanii #saccharinum #rubrum #acerxfreemanii #acersaccharinum #acerrubrum #nativetrees #hybridtrees #cultivatedtrees (at Beverly, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF2s3dSh36O/?igshid=ugov1u4g9iww

Every now and then, in places where the canopy of the surrounding mature trees keeps much of the sun from reaching the forest floor, young oaks like this White Oak (Quercus alba) will have red leaves in early spring. #throwbackthursday . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #whiteoak #quercus #alba #quercusalba #nativetrees (at Ferncroft Pond) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFzO81xhbrw/?igshid=1ic0wp9i30jkf

Large leaves growing on a young Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) sapling in an urban area. . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #northernredoak #quercus #rubra #quercusrubra #nativetrees https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6PbLfBqtJ/?igshid=1g2m976xxxuus

I owe you all trees from last autumn. Life happened but spring is near and so I'm making an effort to post trees again here. 😉 Here's some beautiful March sky with some 60+ year old Northern Red Oaks (Quercus rubra) reaching up to touch it. . . . . . . . #treesofinstagram #treesofig #treesofmassachusetts #treesofthenortheast #treesofnewengland #northernredoak #quercus #rubra #quercusrubra #nativetrees https://www.instagram.com/p/B9lI7XphADY/?igshid=uy20mzbodwmz