Phenology: Maple Trees

We don't usually think of maple trees as having flowers, but they do, about this time every year. Small, dark red flowers can turn the whole tree red, around the same time willow trees turn yellow and fruit trees show their first fragile whitish buds. That is what we're seeing in Gate City, Virginia, right now, despite the cold snap and today's rain.

Further north, the blogger known as Kayre snapped what appears to be a maple tree in full bloom, despite the snow--this could be a recent photo!--with a bald eagle sitting in it:

http://kayre.dreamwidth.org/230637.html

Thanks to Elizabeth Barrette for the link.