Fantastic Colour Show In One Tree

I have one particular tree that is so versatile and gives beauty & pleasure every month of the year.  When we bought it from the garden centre some 17 years ago, the vendor said it would out perform everything else we planted.  At the time we thought this was a bit over the top, rather upselling a tree’s potential.  However, the slender stemmed maple leafed little beauty has indeed performed it’s miracles year on year.  Firstly it is deciduous but even when unclothed in mid winter, the bark is a fabulous silvery shade that reflects the light from every angle.  Then when the buds of leaf come through in late spring, they are a most wonderful citrus green.   The summer is spent in its pale green period before autumn comes and then the real show begins.   Firstly they go a pale yellow, then darken before finally changing over 4 weeks through firey orange, vermillion and then fantastic scarlet, before sadly they drop to  the ground.  And she goes to sleep for a few weeks before the year starts over again.