Maple fest

by aleks

SJG • 10/29/12

1-day Maple Fest in SJG took place over two and a half weeks ago, on Sunday October 14, when sixteen most prominent maples were labeled for public viewing with new, elegant tags.  The practice of labeling trees is rather un-Japanese, as the garden is cultural in nature, and tags, if even present, are usually hidden from the view so they don't disturb the experience of being in the Garden.

SJG • 10/29/12 - Yellow leaves of ginco biloba trees provide nice contrast

Only once a year, for educational purposes, when maples are at their autumnal best, they are labeled so the public can learn the names of the stars in the show; it was usually done for one day only, with hand-made paper signs covered with clear plastic, which were taken down at the end of the day.

SJG • 10/29/12 - Japanese maple, acer palmatum 'Omato' starts in spring with bright red leaves, then goes through shades of green and brown in summer, to return into red form in fall.

But the show goes on for quite a while, of course, especially this year, when the trees started to turn rather late.  Schools schedule field-trips for students to learn about foliage, to admire and draw it, and many people keep coming to delight in ever-changing beautiful scenery.

SJG • 10/29/12 - Over 100 years old Acer palmatum dissectum, Japanese lace leaf maple
starting to show off  its magnificent trunk

The decision was made to make green, more in style with the garden signs, which now stay on for enjoyment of people who didn't make it to the Garden on the Maple Fest Day;  they are taken down when the tree losses its leaves; when I visited the Garden last Monday quite a few were still in place - the Garden continues its autumn show and awaits your visit, before it closes for winter on Monday, November 12.

SJG • 10/29/12