This June 23, 2010 picture of several  'Dwarf Golden Dragon' Shantungs was taken early in the morning and reveals the orange new growth color turning more pink to red as the temperatures rise in an unusually hot and dry June.

This very exciting picture on July 9, 2010 of   'Baby Dragon' Shantung  shows the splendid pink to red summer growth.  While fantastic summer color is easily produced on maples in cooler climates, these small, half-inch size leaves must rival even their best and were produced in Fort Worth after 10 days of rainy weather in July, following one of the hottest and dryest June's ever.

This picture on Mar 14, 2010 of a  'Dwarf Golden Dragon' Shantung  shows the exciting orange with yellow mid-veins on the newly unfurling leaves that this cultivar has produced every spring in its 3-year trial.  A blurred Japanese maple 'Deshojo' is in the background.  Both were kept in my heated greenhouse which explains the early growth.

This picture on Nov. 10, 2009 of a  Fire Dragon^® Shantung maple is perhaps the most brilliant fall colors I have yet seen.  It was the usual red on top but the middle section was a mixture of pink, orange, and yellow.

This midday picture was taken on Sept. 6, 2009 with the camera right up against the trunk at the start of the main branches of the now 10 year old Fire Dragon^® Shantung maple.

This morning picture is softened by fog on April 28, 2009.  The front of Tsuki Gardens with Aratama, Crimson Queen, Shin deshojo a bronze color, Acer gresieum, Yasemin and Fire Dragon^® centered behind the fence.  Satsuki azalea Baiho is in bloom.  The taller tree left of center is a Paperbark maple just leafing out.

I got lucky getting a good picture of Fire Dragon^® this year because of all the cloudy days and had I stayed home on Sunday morning I would not have been there when the sun came out.

Taken 11/30/08.

Shantung maple test cultivar, Dwarf Golden Dragon and first graft (right), both growing well and holding a nice yellow color in July after 7 weeks of high temperatures!  Maybe not a great picture but it sure was exciting seeing this color last in the hot Texas sun.  Don't expect me to have enough to began selling this one until 2011.

Taken 7/8/2008.

Shin deshojo busting out with spring growth with an out-of-focus Orange Dream in background.

Taken 3/25/2008.

Fire Dragon^® Shantung with Ginkgo Autumn Gold.

Taken Dec. 2, 2007.

Overview of Metro Maples.

Taken Dec. 2, 2007.

Fire Dragon^® maples growing likes weeds from lots of rain.

Taken - Aug. 3, 2007

Huang azalea 2-1-72 #2 with Orange Dream in background.

Taken Mar. 25, 2007.

Several Shantung maples including the first graft of Fire Dragon^® which was taken in 2002 (on right), now just 5 years old.  Arizona cypress Blue Ice and Golden Pyramid are the confiers in the ceter.