Make Maple Magic, Like in Serendipity Gardens

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If you want to plant a tree that attracts and supports wildlife, improves the environment in your yard and pleases people as well, a red maple might be a good choice. The red maple, or acer rubrum, is native to the United States.

The Maples in Serendipity Gardens

Seven maple trees grow in Serendipity Gardens, ranging in size from 5 to 50 feet. We planted only three of the six, and each of those has its story:

  • We purchased a red Japanese maple several years ago that had been pruned to arch out to one side. We planted it at the back of our pond, with the idea that it would arch up and over the pond. It does that, but its growth is so slow that the look we had in mind is hard to see. If I were buying a tree for that spot today, it would not be a Japanese maple, lovely though it is.
  • I purchased a membership to the Arbor Day Foundation and got ten trees of my choice plus a free red maple (an offer you can take advantage of today). That one seems to be growing well. It began its life in Serendipity Gardens as a stick. Today it is about five feet tall.
  • The third maple we planted was a gift from one of our sons-in-law. It is a silver maple, planted in honor of our dog Gina that died. We put her ashes in the planting hole. The tree has grown very quickly and is now about 15 to 20 feet tall. We call it the “Gina tree.”

Of the remaining four maples, one planted itself beside the driveway, and we let it stay. The other three, of at least two different types, were all here as big trees when we came. ... Read More