Acer grandidentatum.

Tomorrow I will begin cold stratifying several Acer grandidentatum, or Bigtooth Maple, seeds I collected from the tree we planted in our front yard. I'm not sure that the parent tree was able to make the transition from nursery pot to ground, and the hotter than normal (for what "normal" is worth in Colorado) temperatures this past summer might have dried out its root ball more rapidly than my deep soakings could keep up with. Perhaps this year will be a little more moderate, which, so long as there's sufficient moisture and sun, will be a little easier on seedling and yearling trees. Anyway, the seed I collected from the Bigtooth Maple appears to be viable, but time will tell. I'll leave them in the refrigerator for about a month, then I'll see if they germinate in preparation for planting outside in late May.

Acer grandidentatum growing in Utah. Photo by Cory Maylett, August 2005.