Are you sure? Because the branch structure and the surrounding bushes (boxwood?) look to be the same. Also, in this photo of the same dissectum, you can see the tree's position in relation to the water. It looks to be the same as the shot posted above. Kneeling down on the path and taking a shot up into the branches would make the tree look a lot larger. If you look at the size of the leaves in comparison to the branches in the shot/link I posted above, it's not actually that big of a tree. Here is a link that might be useful: This post was edited by maplesmagpie on Fri, Nov 14, 14 at 17:23

I found this article on Portland food trucks to be interesting and potentially helpful. I especially liked the comments at the bottom, which I felt were well balanced and polite. I do love Portland as a city - it reminds me of Austin quite a bit - even more than Tucson does, but I like Portland better. I won't be able to make it this year, but it's still on my list for a summer visit. Late July is the perfect time to go there. Lars

Been there many times. To do it justice, you must visit during each season of the year. Be aware that the garden is closed until March due to heavy renovation, not of the garden itself, but of the parking and other areas, adding a cafe, parking, etc.

You need to be aware that verticillium wilt is an opportunistic pathogen that will seldom present a problem IF the trees are kept healthy and free of stress. That means watering as necessary in response to local weather, avoidance of any root disturbance (no planting or cultivation in the immediate root zone) and using clean tools. There is NO prevention (other than following the above practices) and there is NO control - you cannot treat for VW. But unless you create a situation or allow a situation to occur that puts the tree under stress or mechanically damages the tree, it is highly unlikely you will ever encounter it. If it was as prevalent as your acquaintance implied, JM's in the PNW would be dropping like flies.......and they are not :-)) It does happen....but rarely. The leaves look perfectly normal.....for this time of year. One of the best features of any JM is the range of leaf coloration they offer throughout the course of the year, with fall offering some of the best. And different varieties will color up differently and at different times.....some earlier, some later. The Portland Japanese Garden offers pruning workshops that focus on Japanese maple pruning. You might want to explore that option to get some hands-on experience yourself or to access some resources for experienced pruners that can help. Japanse maples require very little in the way of routine pruning, especially ones that are as established, as mature and as well cared for as yours appears to be. Other than the periodic removal of dead wood (a natural and expected occurrence), there is not much that your tree will ever require.