Can there be a more popular genus of tree than the acer? Flowering cherry I hear you cry, and I must admit they do seem to be equally beloved. I currently live in the well-wooded county of Herefordshire and here it seems that the acer almost competes in numbers with the fruit trees in the plentiful orchards. Breeders have ensured that an acer with almost any tint of red, orange, yellow and green is available and in gardens, parks, roadside verges, even supermarket car parks, they are currently (mid-April) showing their leaves to great advantage. This example is in our garden. We had a similar variety in our previous garden but it succumbed to successive hard winters. I have higher hopes for this tree.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10
