Download What is Happening?

What is Happening?
Spring is on the Way.
What Is Happening?
It is March. The sun is shining and the air is warm. Birds are
singing. And look - a dandelion. Spring must be here.
What Is Happening?
Here are many different kinds of plants. Each decides when it
is spring. Each one tells us that it is spring in its own way and
its own time.
What Is Happening?
Look closely at these trees. Some of them have bare
branches. The big one in the front has been green all winter.
How can that be? What do they tell about spring?
What Is Happening?
Here is a sign of spring that horses and cows like. In
spring the brown grass is replaced with beautiful soft
green grass. Great to eat if you are a horse!
What Is Happening?
Many animals have babies in the spring. The weather
is warm, and the babies will have many months to
grow before the weather gets cold again.
Scientists think that plants are one of the best signs of
spring. So what do plants do in the spring?
What Is Happening?
Daffodils are one of the first kinds of flowers to bloom in the
spring, so they are a good way to tell if spring is here. When
the soil is warm enough, the daffodil bulbs start to grow.
What Is Happening?
Many plants look like they are dead during the winter. We say
they are dormant. When the air and ground are warm enough,
the plants start to grow again. That is what is happening with
this mint.
What Is Happening?
Look at the trees and bushes in this yard. Some are
blooming, some are still bare, and some are always
green. Not all plants bloom at the same time.
What Is Happening?
We can tell spring is here when trees open their buds. The
buds on this apple tree have just begun to open.
What Is Happening?
The leaves on this tree have already burst out and you
can see the beginning of maple seeds (the ones like
helicopters).
What Is Happening?
The leaves on this crabapple tree have come out, but
they are a dark purple color. This does not look at all
like the pale green leaves on the peach tree.
What Is Happening?
This is a lilac bush. The leaves come out in the spring
on this plant. Beautiful purple flowers will bloom later
in the summer.
What Is Happening?
Both leaves and flowers are on this peach tree. Why
do these plants all react to spring differently?
What Is Happening?
How do we know when spring has come?
Scientists know that plants signal spring.
This study is called phenology. Scientists
want to know what makes spring start.
What makes the buds on plants start to
open?
What Is Happening?
Scientists say that spring is here when there is
Budburst is when the buds on a tree or bush open up.
When is your
?
What caused your budburst?
WAS IT WHERE THE
PLANT WAS LOCATED?
HOW CAN WE
FIND OUT WHAT
IS HAPPENING?
For Help
Jerry Cobbs
AMSTI-GLOBE
Technology Specialist
[email protected]
Lynn Vaughan
AMSTI-GLOBE
Resource Specialist
[email protected]
Robin Nelson
AMSTI-GLOBE
Administrator
[email protected]
AMSTI-GLOBE
www.amsti.org/globe
The GLOBE Program
www.globe.gov