There were at least two of these Acer pseudoplatanus purpureum trees growing at the JM Cellars winery in Woodinville, outside Seattle, WA. I suppose it was just the way the sun was hitting the leaves that made the undersides seem golden. I really liked the contrast with the very dark green leaf top colour.
Yes, very nice, striking. Wendy, would you remember if that is a pruned hemlock, Tsuga, near the base and to the left of the sprinkler in your first photo, or even which variety it is ? Your photos remind me of looking up through a 'Prinz Handjery' , with the purple underleaf, at Van Dusen years ago.
I saw some very large wild specimens on the Isle de Groix last summer. Very striking in the summer sun. Isn't the correct name var. atropurpureum? Whatever this is on my plant list. -E
Chimera, I'm sorry, I don't know and I'm not sure where I was on the rough map they gave each of us, with the plant list. So the best I can do is tell you all the Tsugas on their list: Tsuga canadensis Tsuga canadensis cultivar Tsuga canadensis 'Pendulala' Tsuga canadensis pendula Tsuga canadensis 'Pendula' Tsuga canadensis (dwarf) Tsuga canadensis 'Minuta' Tsuga canadensis 'Muttontown' Tsuga canadensis 'Bacon#2' Tsuga canadensis 'Springarns Littleleaf' Tsuga canadensis 'Curly'Tsuga canadensis 'Lewisii' Tsuga canadensis 'Gentsch' Tsuga canadensis 'Coles' Tsuga caroliniana 'Compacta' Tsuga mertensiana They list 29 Acer palmatum cultivars and about seven other maples. But they don't actually list this A. pseudoplatanus purpureum, so I can't locate it on the map and tell you what's shown next to it! The winery is open on weekends and people are welcome to walk around. They have 223 trees on their plant list.
The plantings began over 50 years ago. There is a dwarf- and slow-growing conifer collection that has been overtaken by spontaneous sycamore maple seedlings such as the ones shown here as well as other, taller trees including large-growing conifers that are part of the plantings. The current owners (JM Cellars) have been working on renovating the garden for the last 9 years. Note the large trident maple at the left corner of the building. Its scaly looking trunk can be made out through the other trees between it and the camera by enlarging this shot. http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=61440&d=1243492458 A seedling of it can be seen to the right.
Wendy and Ron, Ok, thanks very much, I can eliminate those with which I feel confident it is not, keeping in mind it could be quite old and reaching for the light.