Transcript Tree Budding The Cherry Trees of Washington, DC Images and

Tree Budding
Example: The Cherry Trees of Washington, DC
Images and information from http://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390
http://www.middleschoolscience.com
Tree Budding
•
2009 Bloom Watch
•
Average Peak Bloom Date:
April 4
•
•
2009 Blooming Period:
March 28 – April 11, 2009
2009 Peak Bloom Date Forecast:
April 1 - 4, 2009
• The Cherry Trees of the Tidal Basin
were a gift from Japan in 1912.
• The blossoms are pink and white
and signal the much awaited arrival
of spring.
• Blooming Period: is defined as a
period that starts when 20% of the
blossoms are open and ends when
the petals fall and the leaves
appear.
• Peak Bloom Date : 70% of the
blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry
(Prunus x yedoensis) trees are
open.
Budding Stages
• Stage 1: Mid to Late
February to Early March
• Green Color in Buds
• Stage 2: Early to Mid
March, Av. 16-21 days to
Peak Bloom
• Florets Visible
Budding Stages
• Stage 3: Av. 12-17 days
to Peak Bloom
• Stage 4: Av. 5-10 days to
Peak Bloom (Frost Critical)
• Extension of Florets
• Peduncle Elongation
Budding Stages
• Stage 5: Av. 4-6 days to
Peak Bloom
• Puffy White
Bud Development
• Buds are formed the previous summer while the tree
is in its growing phase.
• The buds remain dormant through the fall and winter.
• In the spring, the buds start to grow again and burst
open, cracking open the protective scales that cover
them.
• Some trees make flowers first while others make
leaves first, but they both come from buds.
Basic Parts of a Twig
• terminal bud — a bud that is at the tip of a
stem or branch
• bud scale — a small modified leaf on the
outside of a bud
• lateral bud — a bud that is situated along the
sides of a branch and not at the tip
• leaf scar — the scar left on a twig when a
leaf falls
• pith — central, usually soft portion of a
twig
http://www.clemson.edu/extfor/publications/bul117/characteristics.htm
Adopt Your Tree
Your tasks for this week are:
1. Look for budding and identify the terminal and lateral buds, and then
determine if flowers and/or leaves are emerging. Make Sketches.
2. Step back from your tree and sketch the general silhouette of your
tree. How many trunks does it have? Is it tall and thin, short and full, is
it narrow at the trunk and full in the crown?
3. Do a bark rubbing and make as many observations about the bark as
you can, such as color and texture.
4. Stand still by your tree for at least 5 minutes. Do you notice any
wildlife in or around your tree? Birds, insects, small animals, etc.
5. Record all your observations and place into your Tree folder.