An Unexpected Color For Spring

 Spring is traditionally the time of pastels with gardens full of pink magnolia and cherry blossoms or carpets of yellow daffodils.  Look up into the taller trees. Even before the smallest green tree leaflets unfurl, there is an autumnal-colored haze. The reddish clusters are the samaras holding the seeds of red maples. They look almost like russet flowers among the branches.  Soon they will detach from the trees and travel on breezes in dizzying flights downward. Depending on where you grew up, you know these double-winged seed vehicles as helicopters, whirligigs, twisters or whirlers. When they start to twirl off the trees this year, why not stop for a minute, pretend you are a kid, and chase after them?