What Tree Do Helicopters Come From?

This weekend, you can look around much of the Tri-State and see the twirling seeds falling to the ground.  Some call them helicopters.  I call them whirlybirds.  I even got some interesting answers from others around the office.

I've heard them called propeller seeds, whirlygigs, copter patrol, and spinners.  I've heard everything but what they actually are.

They're seeds from a maple tree, and if you have one in your yard, then you know that late spring is gutter-cleanin' time.  It's also garden-cleanin' time.  I learned the hard way not to fix up the front landscaping until the whirlybirds fall, or I'll be digging out tiny maple trees for weeks.