About 15 years ago, Palmerton area woodsmith Elbert George chopped down a sugar maple at his yard near Forest Inn. Expecting to see typical rings in the woodgrain identifying the tree's age, George was amazed to find each cross-section slice of the trunk displaying a spectacular splash pattern of reds and some blues similar to an abstract expressionist painting. George said he's never seen anything like it before or since. He preserved the pieces and took a sample to a public farm sale in Andreas on Saturday morning to discuss the oddity with naturalists and outdoors experts.