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# My Red Maple Tree
- URL: https://www.soul-riot.com/my-red-maple-tree/
- Published: 2026-10-15T13:15:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-15T13:15:21.000Z
- Description: The woman who planted my Red Maple, more than 40 years ago, would love to see it today.
- Author: Elena Corriero
- Tags: Stories, Everything Else

Can I do justice to the radiance of my red maple tree?

In Italy, we say that leaves turn yellow when autumn comes. That's kinda drab. 

When I traveled to Japan, more than 20 years ago, I discovered that leaves turn red (*aka ni naru*), not yellow; framing the arcs - *Torii* \- that lead to a deity's sacred spaces, framing stone staircases. That's why it feels like a gift to see the leaves turn red in my own front yard, too.

Among the trees that extend their shady canopy over the street I live on, my maple is the first to turn. In full daylight, it dons a burgundy coat; but in the evening, it shimmers with shades of orange, bright red, crimson, and scarlet - scattering the warm, lively light into my living room.

The tree also scatters a lot of leaves, including over Lynn's driveway. Apologetically, I said to her that I should have some branches trimmed, but she didn't seem concerned. Instead, she said that the woman who planted the tree, would love to see it today. That was more than 40 years ago.

Did she imagine that her sapling would grow so tall, and so fiery?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/6f/eb6faa5c-5ec1-4a1f-9729-ab918987e2a2/content/images/2026/10/PA120208.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/6f/eb6faa5c-5ec1-4a1f-9729-ab918987e2a2/content/images/2026/10/PA120130.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/6f/eb6faa5c-5ec1-4a1f-9729-ab918987e2a2/content/images/2026/10/PA120128.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/6f/eb6faa5c-5ec1-4a1f-9729-ab918987e2a2/content/images/2026/10/PA120133.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/6f/eb6faa5c-5ec1-4a1f-9729-ab918987e2a2/content/images/2026/10/PA120123.jpg)