Japanese Maple

Japanese Maple Tree

My Garden from A to Z

The previous owners of our home planted a beautiful Japanese Maple tree right in front of my kitchen window and next to our front door.  It is a gorgeous plant with light lacy green leaves in the springtime that turn brilliant crimson red in the fall.  During the winter months as the snow melts off the roof, beautiful icicle formations are created  on the maple's branches by the freezing dripping water.  The pictures here don't do it justice. 

Some years when Easter has fallen in mid to late April we have taken a few of the soft, lacy young leaves and wrapped them around our Easter eggs, holding them tightly in place with a piece of sheer nylon stocking tied on each end with a rubber band.  The we dye the eggs, creating fun lacy masterpieces.  

Unfortunately the tree was planted too close to the house, and especially too close to the entryway.  Over the past few years we have had to prune and trim away the branches next to the porch, leaving the view from the doorway a bit bare and not quite so beautiful.  So, if you have the chance to buy and plant a beautiful Japanese Maple, take care to  plant it in a location where it will have plenty of room to grow and display its true loveliness.  But I still love the Japanese Maple!