frisky squirrels and budding maples

I couldn’t decide what was more interesting: that fact that the maples are starting to blossom (in February!) or that the bark of this silver maple looks like elephant skin. Typically, most of the buds on a given tree usually all flower within days of each other. But this year with our unusually warm temps, interspersed with below freezing temps, anything could happen. Silver maple flowers are wind-pollinated and lack petals (which would hinder dissemination).  Therefore, the flowers are not large and flashy, and often escape notice. So look up! Things are happening.

silver maple blossoms (Acer saccharinum)