Time to start this season's thread. Acer monspessulanum, seeds collected in my garden in August, and put in sand in the fridge until late december. I sowed them and left them outside, and they're the first ones to germinate :
Seems to be another silly year. No doubt we will pray for no frost, but in the mean time you're not alone, Rich: even the maples outside (pots or no) are near bursting. The tataricum group has already opened, I think Acer opalus is probably flowering, but have to go look. Planting not done... Lots out in the polytunnel, time to start a "Spring Growth 2026" I fear. But meanwhile, saw these Acer rufinerve popping up after a "winter" outside. It's even effecting seed from the fridge: although I started stratifying late, I already had to lay out Acers pilosum and davidii into trays. Here's the early little rufinerves outside, these are on 2nd year now:
