I’d like to point out that Metro Maples from Ft Worth has a website about growing Japanese maples including a list of which cultivar works best for Texas hot summer and on how to care for it. Also, it sells ‘Fire Dragon’ shantung maple (for its consistent red fall color unlike typical yellow fall color) which is much easier to grow than Japanese maple for full hot windy condition in poor soil like mine (alkaline rocky limestone soil). Thought I’d point it out if anyone wants to have a nice maple with red fall color in full sun, ‘Fire Dragon’ shantung maple is an excellent one. I noticed that you visited Dallas Arboretum. It has ‘Fire Dragon’. It may be a few years before it’s big enough to be noticed. You should try Fort Worth Botanical Garden during the fall (and Metro Maples too) to look at the fall color of Japanese maples and others. Ft Worth Botanical Garden has ‘Fire Dragon’ too if you ever go there and visit. Another great (and free) arboretum is at Stephen F Austin State University during the spring to see all of azaleas blooming and fall too for many kind of maples turning colors.

Thanks for all the useful information, Louis! —Pam

An additional note, JMs need to be fenced from deer in early years.

Thanks for sharing that info, Kathleen. I bet nearly every tree needs to be protected from deer in its early years, eh? —Pam

And the same to you, Ken. Spring will be returning to Austin by February. But I’m still enjoying winter first! —Pam

It doesn’t have to be leaves for Foliage Follow-Up, MMD. Snow-lined branches, fir cones, beautiful bark—that should all be celebrated too. —Pam

No prize, Judy, only the satisfaction of knowing that you and I can see faces where no one else does, apparently! ;-) —Pam