I am heading out in a few minutes to catch the first direct sun that flares through the spring trees as it crests the east ridge. This particular combination of angles makes for some nice backlit baby leaves and fern fronds.
These Striped Maple buds in that kind of light made for an interesting cluster of light green Vs, with each terminal branch giving rise to two leaf buds.
But for the first time (a common theme this week–old dog new tricks-wise) I noticed something else. Every leaf bud also become a branch bud. No leaves are produced anywhere but at the tips of branches, and each leave will be followed by its own branch.
So the final form of this plant is perfectly dichotomous–each fork forks and reforks, its growth in overall height and breadth for the new year starting in the spring with the new leaves.
It takes so little to amaze and delight me. And for that, I am amazed and delighted.
And you amaze and delight me!
I like your backlit dichotomous leaves (and future branches), but the cliff in the background is what moves me. I used to climb a place like that in grade school days in Knoxville, and there is no geology like it in California. Oh well. I rejoice in the nature I do have out here!
Your posts always bring me joy as well as peace. A while back you were despairing of whether anyone cared about what you write. Put simply, I do. It enriches my heart. Oh, and the backlit striped maple buds do too. Thank you. 🌱