Maple keys

The huge maple tree at the bottom of our garden is covered in seeds, called maple keys, this year.

The seeds occur in pairs, with each seed enclosed in a case that's attached to a flat papery wing. This wing has a slight pitch, like a propeller blade, which makes it spin when it falls and allows it to be carried on the wind. This gives it its other name of a helicopter.

#100DaysOfNature Day 58 - Maple keys

A bumper year for maple keys means I'll be pulling up seedlings all spring again!