Oh Canada, where tall and shining maples grow!

| Christie

The past month was especially remarkable, as the Mother Earth put up her royal clothes, and spoiled us with thousands of colours, shades, and feelings.

The whole nature basically metamorphosed, every day acquiring a new appearance as the fall foliage has reached its glory.

There are many plants, bushes, flowers that changed their colours these days, but the most spectacular were the maple trees.

Today, the maple leaf is recognized as the symbol of Canada, but the first popular Canadian symbol was actually the beaver😊

As per Canada website:

“Although the maple leaf is closely associated with Canada, the maple tree was not officially recognized as Canada’s arboreal emblem until 1996.

Of the 150 known species of maple (genus Acer), only 13 are native to North America. Ten of them grow in Canada: the sugar, black, silver, bigleaf, red, mountain, striped, Douglas, vine and Manitoba maples. At least one of the 10 species grows naturally in every province. Canada’s arboreal emblem is the generic maple species.

Trees have played a meaningful role in the historical development of Canada and continue to be of commercial, environmental and aesthetic importance. Maples contribute valuable wood products and sustain the maple sugar industry; they are ideal for promoting Canada as a world leader in the sustainable management of forests.

***

With its distinctive maple leaf, Canada’s red and white flag is easily recognized around the globe. On February 15, 1965, the National Flag of Canada was raised for the first time over Parliament Hill.”

The maple leaves are everywhere in Canadian lives: on the coins, bills, on their flag, hockey team logo, coat of arms, etc, and everywhere else in our cities, streets and parks.

We’ve seen similar foliage when we visited Algonquin Park last fall, in 2019.

I’m not saying that maple trees are spectacular only in Canada. Our neighbours, the Americans have also mountains of maple trees, which can be much more glorious in their season. I was totally impressed by the vivid landscape when we hiked Mount Snow, in Vermont, 5 years ago; the view from the top of a mountain can create a magical glitter when the sun is shining all over the multicoloured surroundings.

We tend to visit other places, neglecting sometimes our own neighbourhood, but this year we focused more on the province we are living in: Ontario. Going through several parks, we’ve had the chance to observe the foliage both in the city and rural areas.

The poignant yellow can also be found in the birch leaves, which combined with the yellow maple leaves can create surreal places and moments. When we went to Killarney park, our daughter told us that all birch roots are actually interconnected underground, forming a kind of a big family of the same root.

Most maples are tall, growing to a height of 10 to 45 metres. So, their roots are spreading far, forming an intertwined network, dense and fibrous, inhibiting the growth of other vegetation where they can reach – a good example would be my front yard flower bed, but I prefer not talking about that😊

Once the cool nights and days are starting at the end of September, the maple trees start changing colours.

The most impressive trees are the red maples, and the sugar maples for their amazing foliage, but also recognized for their sweet sap. If you would like to see how people are collecting maple sap and making their own maple syrup, you can check up here.

Thank you for walking with me!

Enjoy every season wherever you are, and stay safe and healthy!

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30 thoughts on “Oh Canada, where tall and shining maples grow!”

    1. Thank you Nilla! Hopefully the virus-era will end up soon, and you can visit Canada🙂 I think Ontario is most beautiful in the fall, but also every province and every season has it’s own beauty!

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    1. Indeed, there are so many trees, and parks everywhere. We are so grateful for a beautiful autumn, and hope to see it lingering a little longer, even though it is getting cooler with every new week. I believe it is the best season in Ontario.
      But hey, watch some posts later in the winter, and then in April you might think it is always winter here LOL LOL

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  12. Pingback: CA, Ontario: Niagara Gorge – 1000 Places and Memories
  13. Pingback: Oh Canada, where tall and shining maples grow! — 1000 Places and Memories-So beautiful – FotoPerfect

  15. Stunning photos! Fall in the prairies is shorter and that’s always disappointing. Thanks for sharing those gorgeous trails… Makes me want to wander back down East again some fall when travel is once again safe.

    Liked by 1 person

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