Bud burst and aging twigs
Spring is an exhilarating rush. In just a couple short weeks we went from a forest of sticks to a lush green canopy. The greenery has been hiding in dormancy, safely tucked away in buds that were formed sometime last summer. These buds, which are essentially just short branches, are typically covered in bud scales that protect the soft, embryonic leaves, stems, and occasionally flowers from cold temperatures and dry winds over the long winter months. Some buds, e.g. maples and ash, contain all of the leaves the branch will have the following growing season (this is called determinate growth), while others, e.g. elms and basswood, only have a starter kit and continuously develop new leaves throughout the growing season (indeterminate growth).
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The Wild Burlington Newsletter is a (mostly) weekly exploration of our wild world. We cover the natural, unnatural, bizarre, wondrous, and seasonally relevant. Each issue is published a couple weeks later here on our blog. Sign up for the newsletter to stay up-to-date on your wild neighbors. Explore one of the topics below or head to the archives for a look at the full catalog of back issues.
The Archives
Flickers & when birds return
Big-eyed birds and the dawn chorus
Myths: Opossums and ticks
The First Humans in Vermont
Open Tundra
14,000 years of Trees in Vermont
March Mammal Madness Contest 2022
The Burlington Glacier
Sticker Contest – 2022
Myths: Behind the name serviceberry
Origins And Meanings Of Tree Names
Sticker Contest 2022
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