I removed all the leaves of my circinnatum 'Burgundy Jewel' (all mildewed) about 3 weeks ago and I notice new leaves have emerged. But what surprised me was the tree's producing flowers in September. Flower production is a costly behavior by the tree energy-wise, and I wonder why would the tree "waste" that energy producing flowers at the wrong time of year and why would the tree not recognize with the night/day ratio lengthening in September as oppsoed to it decreasing in the early Spring that this is the wrong time to bother wasting energy producing flowers? The chemicals producing leaf color are active now vitiating the vibrant colors of our maples and beginning Fall color so why wouldn't the chemicals that control leafing & flower production also know the right time of year. Any thoughts to explain all this? Thank you.
Shock?? Seems like nearly any organism that is put into shock will have erratic or unpredictable behavior. Losing all its leaves would qualify, don't you think?
My understanding is that the content of the spring buds (ie. leaves and flowers or just leaves) is decided when they are formed the previous summer. Sounds like your maple just used what were intended to be next spring's buds. Like K4 says a reaction to the shock of losing its leaves. If there are no more buds left hopefully there is enough time to form more before fall; I think you have a long growing season there, and if so you should be ok.
