Morning of March 7, 2010

After a long winter, Nature in Reston is finally reawakening.

A red maple (Acer rubrum) with buds ready to flower, highlighted against an evergreen holly (Ilex spp.).  This maple is located in Charter Oak Court.

Close-up of some of the buds.

Ghostly remnants of the structures holding the samaras, or fruit, of a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in Charter Oak Court.  For what this structure looked like last fall, see this post.

Fresh buds and old dried-out fruit on an American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) on the east side of Old Reston Ave. just north of its intersection with American Dream Way.  For a view from last fall, see this post.

New buds can also be seen on this winged burningbush (Euonymus alatus) on the northern side of the W&OD bike path just east of its intersection with Old Reston Avenue (also featured in this post).  With the leaves gone, one can also clearly see the protruding stripes of cork that give this species its name "winged".

Dried husks that once held fruit persisting on a crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) on the north side of the W&OD bike path east of Old Reston Ave.  For what these structures looked like last fall, when they still contained fruit, see this post.