by Connie Oswald Stofko
“That tree looks dead,” my neighbor said. She pointed to maple tree with what looked like a lot of brown, dead leaves.
But the tree is actually thriving and producing lots of seeds–what many of us call helicopters.
It looks like our neighborhood may be getting a bumper crop again this year. This happens in cycles. See more here.
Are you getting just a few or many maple helicopters this year?
It sounds like different neighborhoods are getting different amounts of maple seeds. As as Carol Ann Harlos notes, those different neighborhoods could have different species of maples.
My yard is covered in them. I live in North Buffalo
This is a “mast” year for some species of maple trees. This means an enormous amount of energy is going into seed production. It is not necessarily a sign of good health as this production takes some energy away from leaf production. Keep in mind that there are several different species of maples in western New York…red maple, Sugar maple, silver maple, Norway maple, box elder…they don’t all behave the same.
I’m in Snyder near Main & Harlem. The large silver maple in front of my home has produced more maple seeds than I have ever seen. I’ve shoveled bags full. They’re inside my home, car and garden beds. I’ve been sweeping the street.
This is a “mast” year for many types of maple trees. This means lots of energy is going into seed production. It is not necessarily a sign of good health because energy should also go into leaf production . Several explanations have been offered including temperature changes. Keep in mind that there are several different kinds of maple trees…red maple, sugar maple, Norway maple, boxelder, ……
Not too many in Lancaster. But the cottonwood is insane!
Not too many in Lancaster. But the cottonwood is insane!
It’s raining seeds in my front and back yard (Kenmore). I look forward to pulling out lots of little maple trees throughout the summer!
I’m in Cheektowaga and have noticed an increase in the number of maple helicopters. So many more than last year. My front porch is covered with them and I’ve swept it up twice already.
Oh my Lord yes, we’re inundated with the dog gone things in S Newstead.
In Tonawanda by Kenmore East H.S. there are not that many. In this area last year it was a Nitemare.