When I experienced my first spring in Michigan, I was surprised to see that some trees first formed rich red and bronze leaves before they ever turned green. At times, they took on an almost dark purple hue. If this ever happened where I grew up, I don’t remember noticing it. But it is very prominent in Michigan.
It turns out that red maples, Norway maples, and Japanese maples, in particular, often begin the season this way. They do have chlorophyll, which allows for photosynthesis, but early in their growth, other pigments called anthocyanins dominate the leaves and give them those red and burgundy tones.
Those pigments act like a kind of natural sunscreen, protecting the young leaves from sun damage. They also help reduce stress during the fluctuating temperatures of early spring. (And boy, have they ever fluctuated where I am.)
I don’t know exactly what to take away from this knowledge, other than that I find it interesting. But if you need a reminder that it’s more than okay — maybe even necessary — to have a gentler chapter before launching (or relaunching), I think that’s a beautiful thing.
—Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 