clusters of red blossoms

clusters of red blossoms

shoot forth long red tassels,

unfold golden wings 

The red maples by the Aquatic Center seem to be in a hurry, like so many other plants in springtime. In less than two weeks, they produce both flowers and fruit. These particular maples have male flowers that pop out like pom poms in clusters of red blossoms all along the dark red twigs. From the five-lobed calayx, multiple red styles protrude and lengthen in a few days into long tassels ending in tiny bell-shaped blossoms. Within another week the flowers develop into fruit in the form of double-winged samara. And a week later, before the leaves are fully out, the pairs of golden wings will carry the fat green seeds away on the wind.