March 22, 2005
Flowers at Last!
The first native flowering trees on the Reservation are the Silver Maples (Acer saccharinum.) Because these flowers are wind-pollinated, they do not need showy petals and aromas that would attract pollinators.
Witch Hazels (Hamamelis vernalis) have been flowering at Fresh Pond for weeks, but they are southern relatives of the New England native Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) that blooms late in the fall.