By Cecille Jones, Monroe Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the March 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
The advice to plant the right tree in the right place couldn’t apply more to our tree of the month – the silver maple.
If you have space in your property and you want a fast-growing shade tree, the silver maple (Acer saccharinum) might be for you. The name Acer comes from the Celtic, ac, meaning hard, denoting the dense wood of the maple genus. The species name, saccharinum, means sugar because of the tree’s sap-producing quality (although this is not the best species for making our favored breakfast syrup.)
A species native to eastern North America, the silver maple features 3 – 6” leaves with 5 lobes separated by notably deep, narrow sinuses. Its common name was derived from the fact that its leaves are dark green on top but silvery-white on the underside. Most people delight in seeing the silver underbellies of its leaves shimmer in the sun at the slightest puff of wind during spring and summer.
In the fall, the leaves turn pale yellow. Come springtime, they produce red, yellow and silver clusters of small flowers. At over 3” long, the winged seeds of silver maples are the largest of all native maples.
These trees have wildlife value. Think of beavers finding them delicious, squirrels feasting on their buds, and ducks and other birds using them as nesting sites.
The silver maple holds the distinction of being the twentieth most commonly planted shade tree in American gardens. It grows fast, provides shade quickly, and can adapt to a wide variety of soil conditions.
Silver maples can grow anywhere in Zones 3 to 7. It can survive seasonal inundation and poor soil. As a wetland tree (it’s also called swamp maple), it prefers deep, moist acidic soil. Once established however, it can tolerate drought.
Full sun to partial shade are best for this tree. It prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Silver maples can reach between 50’ to 80’ in height and spread from 35’ to 50’ at maturity. Its growth rate could be as much as two feet annually.
Silver maples are not orderly trees with symmetrical form. Their trunks can become massive, and they have a wide spreading but shallow root system. Don’t expect plants to thrive beneath them.
More importantly, remember to plant this tree well away from your house, foundation, sidewalk and sewer lines where its dense roots can wreak havoc. Also, beware that silver maples have a reputation for having branches that break easily during ice and wind storms.
Just like other trees, silver maples have their good and bad points. That’s why planting this native tree in the right place is key to your success.
This article appeared in the March 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Rose milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) with monarch
Many native seeds require 60, 90 or 120 days of cold, moist conditions (stratification) to break dormancy and germinate. These seeds should be planted in the fall and will germinate when the conditions are right for them. If you didn’t plant native seeds last fall, do not be discouraged, there are a number of native species that only require 30 days of cold, moist stratification. If you plant these seeds by mid-March they will still germinate. In addition, there are native seeds that do not require any special conditioning at all to germinate.
Outdoor / Garden planting: Outdoor planting is the easiest, let Mother Nature do the work!
1) Whether you are planting seed in the ground in March or later, be sure to have an area that is prepared and weed free, weeds will out-compete your native seedlings. Planting seeds in pots or trays and leaving them in a protected area outside also works very well.
2) Plant native seeds only as deep as the width of the seed. Very tiny seeds should be sown on the soil surface with only a light dusting of soil over them. Most of the tiny seeds require exposure to sunlight to germinate.
3) Cover the ground or pots you planted with a piece of window screen or an old cotton sheet. Covering helps to keep the seeds moist, prevents them from being blown away by the wind and protects them from being eaten by birds. Remove the cover once you see the seeds have germinated.
4) Do not let seeds and seedlings dry out. You will need to water if the weather is dry.
5) Always label where your seeds are planted – it is amazing how fast you can forget.
Indoor Cold / Moist stratification:
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) with hummingbird moth
1) Another way to provide 30 days of cold/moist stratification is to sprinkle the seeds on a damp paper towel or coffee filter, fold in half and seal them in a plastic bag. Place bag in the refrigerator for 30 days. If seeds germinate before the 30 days, remove them from the paper towel and carefully plant in pots.
2) You could also place the seeds in pots or trays of moist potting mix, seal them in a plastic bag and refrigerate. After 30 days, remove pots from their bag and place outside in a protected area.
Check out these links that have helpful directions on native seed germination. They also sell native seeds and provide plant descriptions. Have fun!
By Sharon Lunden, Goshen Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the February 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
This month we honor two great presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Stories circulate about each of them chopping trees in their youth. Images of young Lincoln frequently show an axe in his hands, and we’ve all heard the legend of six-year-old George Washington chopping down his father’s cherry tree, confessing, “I cannot tell a lie . . . I did cut it with my hatchet.”
Yoshino cherry trees in bloom
What do you think of when you hear “cherry tree”? Perhaps the cherry blossoms surrounding the tidal basin in Washington, D.C. They have gorgeous white and pink blooms that fragrance the air each spring. Did you know there are more than a dozen varieties of cherry tree throughout our nation’s capital? Japan gave 3020 of these trees to the United States in 1912, as a gesture of friendship. Most were Yoshino cherry trees, Prunus x yedoensis, blooming in clusters of single white flowers with an almond scent, and developing small cherries that attract birds.
Kwanzan cherry blossoms
Another variety sent from Japan is the fruitless Kwanzan cherry, Prunus serrulata. ‘Kwanzan’ produces pink double blooms. Both varieties of cherry tree can be planted in our area. They are hardy in zones up to 5b, and they develop pretty fall foliage. They are relatively short (15–20 feet tall), and short-lived (up to 20 years), but they are so lovely, many gardeners consider them worth the effort. Cherry blossom festivals are held throughout the United States in spring, a testament to our devotion to these gorgeous trees.
Perhaps you’ve seen a Weeping Higan cherry, Prunus x subhirtella (‘Pendula’) in a neighbor’s garden. These grow up to 40 feet tall and produce pretty pink double blossoms on their branches. They can be trimmed for easy mowing or gardening closer to their trunks, or allowed to droop to the ground—in which case you’d need to plant around their drip line to incorporate them into a flower bed.
Ornamental cherries are non-natives and can be susceptible to disease and insect infestation, so they may require regular attention.
Black cherry tree blossoms
Native cherries, or black cherries, Prunus serotina, stand in stark contrast to their ornamental cousins. These trees tower between 60 and 90 feet and can be found from Nova Scotia to Florida and from coast to coast, in zones 3b–9a. They erupt in pendulous racemes up to 6 inches long, covered in fragrant white flowers in spring. They have shiny foliage throughout the summer, turning to a rosy yellow in the fall. The inside of the bark has been used by Native Americans for cough syrups and medicines. The wood is prized by woodworkers for use in making furniture, cabinetry, gun stocks, and musical instruments. These native cherry trees also produce edible cherries.
Cluster of Bing cherries
We’ve probably all snacked on a bowl of Bing cherries, Prunus avium ‘Bing’, a well-loved variety of sweet cherries. These trees come in both standard (up to 35 feet tall) or dwarf (12–15 feet tall) varieties, and grow in zones 5–8. Bing will take about 5 years to begin producing, but once mature a Bing cherry tree can produce 50–100 lbs. of fruit!
These are just a few of the hundreds of varieties of cherry trees available. Why not consider planting one to delight your eyes as well as your taste buds?
By Madelene Knaggs, New Windsor Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the February 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Not so fast with swapping out your hiking boots. Don’t let plunging temperatures lure you into packing away trusty outdoor gear just yet. Some of our region’s most loved trails offer a completely different hiking experience come wintertime. Put on some wool socks and get your dose of snow-dusted evergreens.
With snow and freezing temps, the Hudson Valley is known for its winters that drive most people to hibernate indoors. While those folks are cuddled up next to the fire sipping hot cocoa, there are inviting trails, mountaintops, and waterfalls just waiting to be discovered by winter enthusiasts. It may be chilly, but the rewards are well worth it.
Winter hiking can present its own set of challenges. Before you head out, think ahead and prepare for a wide range of conditions. Here are some tips to help you stay safe out on the trail:
Make sure someone knows where you are going, and
never go out alone.
Visibility can be reduced due to shorter daylight hours as
well as blowing snow.
Carry a map (not just a digital device, which depends on
battery power and signal reception), compass, and
flashlight, as well as safety items such as matches and a
whistle. Pack a knife or multi-tool and a small first aid kit.
Wear proper footwear—waterproof footwear with good
tread. Bring extra traction devices with you in case of ice.
A sturdy walking stick is a helpful accessory.
Watch for hypothermia. The best remedy is dressing in
layers and having extra dry, warm clothes in your
backpack. Wear wool or synthetic fabrics. No cotton.
Beware of frostbite. Have a couple of hand- and toe-warmers
in your pack.
Stay hydrated. Mix a sports drink with your water to keep it from freezing.
Pack calorie-dense foods such as granola bars, dried fruit, and nuts to help fuel your hike.
Make sure your phone is fully charged, and bring your
camera.
You are now ready to take that hike! Pay attention as your own personal IMAX show begins. The hills, dales, and woods of the Hudson Valley take on a new form in the winter. Leafless trees make for stunning views, while snow-laden trails are a good reason to break out the insulated hiking boots and snowshoes. Experience the tranquil nature of winter as you follow icy streams through hilly forests filled with northern hardwoods and pines.
Deer tracks in snow
The animal world also presents itself very differently in this season. Take a walk on a cold winter morning when a dusting of snow has coated the ground, and you will see the tracks of animals who only hours before had gone about their nightly rituals. Animals that do not migrate or fully hibernate may be elusive during the winter months but are still present in the forests. Mink, fishers, black bears, raccoons, bobcats, and rabbits may not be as common or as visible as deer or squirrels, but they can sometimes be seen in the early morning hours or at dusk. For help identifying the tracks of animals you may encounter, check out this article about deciphering winter animal tracks and/or these great illustrations of animal tracks.
Adult winter stonefly
Although you won’t see many insects while out hiking in the winter, there a few that may surprise you. While cross-country skiing along a railroad track bed in New Windsor this December, I spotted an unfamiliar little creature in the snow. I sent a picture in to Susan Ndiaye, the Community Horticulture Educator/Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, who promptly identified the mystery “bug” as a winter stonefly, from the family Taeniopterygidae. Winter stonefly nymphs are aquatic and spend their summers in streams, then in winter they emerge as adults onto the snow or ice. Adult winter stoneflies are usually smaller than an inch in length, but their dark brown or black color makes them visible on the snow. The adults only survive for a few weeks, walking across the snow searching for a mate.
Black-capped chickadee
As you continue your hike, try to identify birds. Many species of birds do not migrate but remain to take advantage of local food sources. Some of these birds, especially chickadees, can spend the winters here in the northeast due to their short-term hibernation state called ‘torpor,’ which they enter when temperatures drop. During this period triggered by exposure to cold, food shortages, or droughts, their energy expenditure is reduced. Throughout their torpor, metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate are decreased to help them conserve energy and maintain body heat.
There are also many trees that thrive in the forests in the winter and are relatively easy to identify. The native eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is found in well-drained soils, and usually grows straight and tall with horizontal, upturned branches. The tree has a uniformly full foliage, with a light gray bark that has shallow ridges. White pines have 5 feathery light green needles per cluster, and both the needles and the stem are flexible and slim. White pine cones, which are narrow and about 3 to 8 inches long, are tasty treats for squirrels and birds.
Eastern hemlock tree
Another native evergreen, the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), has a tall, straight growth pattern, with branches that stretch out horizontally. It looks like a Christmas tree covered in small, round, brown pine cone decorations. Unlike Christmas pine trees, though, hemlock does not have bundles of needles, just one short needle per node. The needles are soft and dark green in color with two ‘racing stripes’ on the underside of each needle. Its twigs are thin and flexible. The bark of the Hemlock is scaly when young, and eventually becomes ridged with age. Its trunk is reddish-brown in color. These trees grow in a shady, moist habitat, along streams or at higher elevations, and help keep the water in mountain streams cold for brook trout and other coldwater fishes.
Many of NYS’s hiking trails offer fragrant pine and evergreen forests. Taking in the scents and tranquil beauty of these trails can do much to calm your spirits during difficult times. Observe the striking contrast of the greenery against any snow that may have fallen. Stop and admire stands of birch surrounding frozen lake and creek shorelines, and the astonishing views that have opened up since the autumn leaves have fallen. In addition to the stark majesty of the forest’s bare branches against the winter sky, remember to keep an eye out for the Hudson Valley’s many waterfalls, which are even more magnificent when temperatures drop below freezing. What could be more magical than icicle-glistening waterfalls?
Tree clubmoss
One final interesting attraction I’ll mention that you might encounter in a local forest hike is the flat-branched tree clubmoss (Lycopodium obscurum), also called ‘ground pine’ (although it really is a moss). It is fairly common here in the eastern US and southeastern Canada. Clubmosses look like miniature Christmas trees or candles on the forest floor. Some types grow as long runners that were once commonly used for garlands. Today, this plant is on the protected species list in order to prevent over-harvesting. So if you do get the chance to see some, please enjoy the sight and then let it be!
Besides walking, there are many other ways to explore local hiking trails. Depending on the amount of snow cover, some good alternatives to hoofing it in boots alone include donning snowshoes or cross-country skis.
The Hudson Valley has an abundance of state parks and outdoor recreation areas to visit. Here are some suggested destinations for lovely winter treks:
A woody road leads to a blue-blazed trail that takes you to Arden Point, the first of several vistas on this easy four-mile hike. In addition, the walk takes you over a road used by noted Revolutionary War–era figure Benedict Arnold to escape capture after being revealed as a traitor.
Take the green-on-orange Townsend Trail to the white-on-green Long Meadow Extension Trail, which is also a skiing trail. The sweeping view overlooking southeast Orange County is made even more expansive thanks to the bare trees of winter.
Access Points/Parking:Chester Depot Museum, Village of Chester; St. James Place, Village of Goshen; and Park and Ride Lot B, Village of Monroe
Follow the former Erie Railroad as it winds past historic graveyards, onion farms, a wildlife sanctuary, and the villages of Monroe, Chester, and Goshen.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, this resort sits on 2200 acres of landscaped meadows, adjacent to the Mohonk Preserve—an 8000-acre expanse of mountain terrain. Forty miles of hiking trails through forests, cliffs, streams, and ponds provide cascading views of the Catskills.
Explore a great variety of trails, from carriage-type roads to narrow, rocky paths. The many reservoirs and ecosystems and the tree and plant diversity offer good opportunities to see wildlife, or at least their tracks!
Cornwall’s many hiking trails along meadows, forests, and ponds make for a winter wonderland.
Finally, for a plethora of further information on where to go and what you’ll find, safety tips, suggested trails to hike based on your level of experience, helpful links, and much more, visit the Hiking page on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website.
So, loaded up with good information and the right preparations and equipment, you can get out there and enjoy the great outdoors in the winter. Just remember, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!”
Even though most of the trees are still bare and must of us awoke to snow on the ground this weekend, spring has arrived and with it are some of the most beautiful blooms of the year.
Spring Flowering Bulbs
Hyacinthus orientalisDaffodils (Narcissus spp.)
The crocuses have all but faded, but the daffodils continue to bloom, brightening up the drab landscape with their cheery yellows and oranges. They have recently been joined by the hyacinths. With their overpowering fragrance, these flowers add to springs color palette with their cool colors of pink and purple.
You may have noticed some small purple flowers known as grape hyacinths. Not a true hyacinth, the inflorescence of this flower is a cone of small purple flowers that almost looks like a miniature clump of grapes.
Daffodil ‘Ice Follies‘
If you want to bring some spring cheer inside (highly recommended), it is best to give daffodils their own vase as their stems secrete a substance that is harmful to other flowers.
A mixture of the white spring ephemeral bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and the purple spring bulb green anemone (Anemone blanda).Hepatica nobilis
One of the great joys of spring is the appearance of spring ephemerals. These native plants grow in wooded areas and only have a short time to flower before the trees above them leaf out and block their sunlight. When you are walking through wooded areas in the spring, make sure you watch your feet or might step on the delicate flowers of the bloodroot or the hepatica.
Many spring flowering plants are considered weeds. You may think that dandelion in your lawn is unsightly, but the bees beg to differ. Dandelions are an important source of pollen and nectar for bees in the early spring as are other spring flowering ‘weeds’ like purple deadnettle and henbit.
What about Fungus?
Cedar-Apple Rust Gall (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae)
Now fungi aren’t plants, so they don’t have flowers, but they can add color to the landscape. In the spring cedar-apple rust galls that overwintered on juniper become more noticeable as they produce gelatinous tendrils that release spores into the air. Some of these spores will find their way to apple trees where they can cause problems by infecting the leaves and the fruit of the tree.
Happy Spring!
Thanks to all of the Master Gardener Volunteers who provided their thoughts and photos for this post!
Scientists are limited in the amount of data they can collect by both time and money. With help from members of the general public, known as citizen scientists, researchers are able to crowd source data collection collecting more data from more places helping them find answers to real-world questions.
So if you want to do something fun and educational that contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge, consider becoming a citizen scientist.
This project focuses on migration and seasonal changes. People all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico, report sightings of birds, monarchs, frogs, and other organism. Watch as reported sightings are mapped in real-time as waves of migrations that move across the continent.
iNaturalist lets you photograph, identify, and document what’s around you. Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. By sharing your observations with scientists, you will help build our understanding of the natural world.
In studying life, scientists have overlooked many regions. Some regions have not been studied because they are so remote. Others because they are so diverse that it is hard to know where to even begin. Then there is the great indoors, which we believe has been understudied in part because it is so immediate. This project aims to document the species that live indoors with humans.
Hundreds of thousands of people around the world contribute bird observations to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology each year, gathering data on a scale once unimaginable. Scientists use these data to reveal how birds are affected by habitat loss, pollution, disease, climate, and other environmental changes. Your participation will help trace bird migration, nesting success, and changes in bird numbers through time.
Celebrate Urban Birds is a citizen science project focused on better understanding the value of green spaces for birds. This project connects people of all ages and backgrounds to birds and the natural world through the arts and fun neighborhood activities.
The goal of this project is to gather this information on bird sightings, archive it, and freely share it to power new data-driven approaches to science, conservation and education. e-Bird also develops tools that make birding more rewarding. It provides the most current and useful information to the birding community from photos and audio recordings, to seeing real-time maps of species distribution and alerts that let you know when species have been seen.
NestWatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. Their database is intended to be used to study the current condition of breeding bird populations and how they may be changing over time as a result of climate change, habitat degradation and loss, expansion of urban areas, and the introduction of non-native plants and animals.
The Tick App allows people living in high-risk areas for Lyme disease, like Orange County New York, to participate in a tick behavioral study. Participants complete daily logs and report ticks. The app provides information on how to remove ticks, prevent tick bites, and general information about ticks. When enough people are involved, it can also provides information about blacklegged and deer tick activity in our area.
This citizen science project’s mission is to better understand the distribution and abundance of breeding monarchs and to use that knowledge to inform and inspire monarch conservation. People from across the United States and Canada participate in this monarch research. Their observations aid in conserving monarchs and their threatened migratory phenomenon, and advance the understanding of butterfly ecology in general.
Monarch Watch strives to provide the public with information about the biology of monarch butterflies, their spectacular migration, and how to use monarchs to further science education in primary and secondary schools. They engage in research on monarch migration biology and monarch population dynamics to better understand how to conserve the monarch migration.
In the spring and fall volunteers collect observations of adult monarchs. This information is used to assemble quantitative data on monarch numbers at critical times during the breeding season.
Each fall Monarch Watch distributes more than a quarter of a million tags to thousands of volunteers across North America who tag monarchs as they migrate through their area. These citizen scientists capture monarchs throughout the migration season, record the tag code, tag date, gender of the butterfly, and geographic location then tag and release them. At the end of the tagging season, these data are submitted to Monarch Watch and added to their database to be used in research.
In the past twenty years, native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rare. During this same time, ladybugs from other parts of the world have greatly increased in both numbers and range. This is happening very quickly and no one knows how, why, or what impact it will have on ladybug diversity. Citizen scientists involved in this project help scientists answer these questions by photographing ladybugs and submitting the photos along with information about when and where the ladybugs were found.
A project of Cornell University’s Garden Based Learning, this web forum provides an avenue for gardeners to share knowledge. Gardeners report what vegetable varieties perform well – and not so well – in their gardens. Other gardeners can view ratings and read the reviews to decide which might work well for them. Researchers use the information gain new insight into the performance of vegetable varieties under a wide range of conditions and practices. The information gathered is also used to make a Selected List of Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners in New York State.
Native pollinators play an essential role in the pollination of flowering plants, including native plants and wildflowers, garden plants, as well as cultivated crops. Some native pollinator species have suffered population declines over the last few decades. Participants in this study submit photographs and/or specimens to help determine the conservation status of a wide array of native insect pollinators in non-agricultural habitats.
iMapInvasives is an on-line, GIS-based data management system used to assist citizen scientists and natural resource professionals working to protect our natural resources from the threat of invasive species. Citizen scientists are provided with resources to help them identify invasive species. Their invasive species findings are aggregated with data from a wide variety of sources contributing to early detection of invasive species as well as analysis of management strategies.
Natural history museums across the world share a common goal – to conserve and make available knowledge about natural and cultural heritage. The Notes from Nature project gives you the opportunity to make a scientifically important contribution towards that goal by transcribing museum records. Every transcription that is completed brings us closer to filling gaps in our knowledge of global biodiversity and natural heritage.
This is an official government website designed to accelerate the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science across the U.S. government. It includes a searchable database of a government-wide listing of citizen science and crowdsourcing projects designed to improve cross-agency collaboration, reveal opportunities for new high-impact projects, and make it easier for volunteers to find out about projects they can join.
Signs of spring abound! Bird songs fill the air. Buds on the trees are starting to unfurl. New shoots are breaking through the soil. And flowers are beginning to bloom!
Here are some of the flowers to look out for as you venture outside for a breath of fresh air.
When most people think of maple trees, flowers aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Red maples are native to the eastern United States and happen to be one of the first trees to flower in the spring. Their bright pink to red flowers result in the production of thousands of winged fruits called samaras, colloquially referred to as helicopters. After ripening on the trees for several weeks they will fill the air and litter the ground.
Forsythia spp.
Although many people equate the yellow blossoms of the forsythia with the beginning of spring, the forsythia is not native to New York; it actually native to eastern Asia. This fast growing shrub is a favorite among homeowners, because it is tolerant to deer, resistant to Japanese beetles, and rarely has disease problems. If you are looking for a native alternative to forsythia, try spicebush (Lindera benzoin). This medium sized multi-stemmed shrub has fragrant yellow-green flowers in early spring and supports 12 species of butterflies and provides berries for the birds.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)Crocus spp.
One of the many joys of spring is the emergence of all the spring flowering bulbs. Some of them are already blooming: snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils (my favorite flower!). Despite its sometime unsightly appearance, make sure you leave the foliage alone until it turns yellow and dies back. This allows the leaves of the plant to produce food through photosynthesis. This food is stored in the bulb and will be used to produce even more beautiful flowers next spring!
Hellebores are also flowering! This evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to Turkey, but does well here in Orange County. It grows well in full or partial shade and has beautiful white to pink to purple flowers that bloom in late winter into early spring. Hellebores are rarely damaged by deer and as they are evergreen, after their flowers fade, they make an attractive ground cover
A species native to eastern North America, the silver maple features 3 – 6” leaves with 5 lobes separated by notably deep, narrow sinuses. Its common name was derived from the fact that its leaves are dark green on top but silvery-white on the underside. Most people delight in seeing the silver underbellies of its leaves shimmer in the sun at the slightest puff of wind during spring and summer.
These trees have wildlife value. Think of beavers finding them delicious, squirrels feasting on their buds, and ducks and other birds using them as nesting sites.
Full sun to partial shade are best for this tree. It prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Silver maples can reach between 50’ to 80’ in height and spread from 35’ to 50’ at maturity. Its growth rate could be as much as two feet annually.
i-Naturalist
