13th
2009
Leaf and Flower Buds: It is snowing outside as I write this post after having photographed a few of the buds on the ends of tree branches this afternoon. Did you realize that many northern trees have fully formed buds all winter long? Here are some quotes from Bernd Heinrich’s book, The ingenuity of animal survival: Winter World.
“A bud can consist of bare clusters of miniature leaves harboring a new shoot; an embryonic flower or inflorescence; or both incipient leaves and flowers encased together under protective scales”… “All leaf and flower buds are packed with nutrients and are prized winter food for many northern herbivores”…” Ruffed grouse live all winter on aspen and birch buds, and…purple finches devour sugar maple flower buds”….”Buds vary greatly in size, and it is primarily the trees of northern regions that have large buds”…”For large-budded northern trees, the prepackaging of leaves and flowers into buds must have some advantages that outweigh the considerable cost of maintaining buds for so long before they are activated. I suspect the main benefit of having the leaves and flowers preformed all winter is for a quick start-up in the spring—the buds are ready to break out quickly on cue, thereby allowing the tree to make the most of a short growing season. In New England, trees have only three short months in which to produce leaves and then use them to make an energy profit.”
Snow Total thus Far: 10.25” this season
SNOW: We received 1.5 inches of snow which then turned to rain this evening.
