Come autumn, Silver Maples transition into a pale, buttery-yellow rather than the brilliant reds or deep oranges seen on other maples.
According to my neighbour, this tree is 100+ years old and was, originally, part of the Carolinian Forest. It is very tall, and almost entirely dead except for a couple of limbs near the top. Silver Maples are famous for being ultra-fast growers, but they pay for that speed with very brittle, weak wood. Because they grow so large so quickly, older Silver Maples are notoriously prone to significant branch dieback, storm damage, and internal rot as they age.
Unfortunately for our community, this elder of its species is close to its maximum lifespan; Silver Maples typically only live between 100 and 130 years. The fact that it is hollow and entirely bare except for the top branches means it is naturally completing its life cycle. It is incredibly sad to think that the beautiful yellow leaves I am writing about today, might just be the parting gifts of a tree that has stood guard over our neighborhood since the earliest days of Kingsville’s history!
Buttery-Gold Elegy
A century of seasons passed,
An elder of the line,
A relic of the ancient woods,
Of marsh and Carolinian vine.
Now skeletal and largely bare,
Our giant slows its pace,
Yet holds a single arm of gold
Into the autumn space.
Like buttery light against the blue,
Those final leaves hold fast,
A shimmering, defiant crown
Remembering the past.
Though trapped at home, my eyes look high
Where pale and yellow gleam,
A hundred years of strength and rain,
Now quiet as a dream.
The old tree yields to changing days,
But leaves this parting gift—
A sudden, brilliant, Carolinian blaze
To give my heart a lift.
Thanks to Dawn for another “Festival of Leaves” prompt. This is a lovely way to celebrate the season! Please take a minute to visit Dawn’s blog, to see her great image and read her narrative:
Festival of Leaves 2026 Week #2~ The Red Dogwood in the Woods
’Til next time, y’all…
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