under the mature maple tree that grows beside our deck there are a dozen of these hopeful sprouts.  every spring they shoot up.  none of them makes it.  i assume they lose the battle for sunlight and water with the parent tree. but it could as easily be that those tender leaves are perfect late afternoon deer snacks. the whitetail equivalent of the loose handful of chocolate covered almonds i snuck earlier today.

sugar maple sapling

saint paul, minnesota