No new spring leaves yet! However, as you'll read in the reports from Texas, Louisiana and Florida, the greening of spring is about to begin. Many trees are in bloom and their leaves will soon follow. As you read the reports below, here are some things to discuss as a class:
* In what order do you think signs of spring occur in most places?
* Do tulips bloom before robins return?
* Does leaf-out occur before or after ice-out?
* Why do you think these things occur in the order they do?
Finally, can you answer Challenge Question #17?
"At what minimum average daily temperture do you think deciduous trees leaf-out in the springtime? Why?" (To respond, please follow the steps at the end of this report.)
Many students knew the definition of deciduous. Anthony of Tri- Valley Central School in Grahamsville, NY found that it meant: "To be shed at a certain period, such as shedding teeth, leaves, antlers." Thanks for such a good definition, Anthony, and thanks to students in Vermont, Ontario and New York for writing. You'll find their comments below.
Report Leaf-Out to Journey North
When your leaves are the size of a U.S. quarter please let us know! Fill out a Field Data Form by pressing the button below labelled, "Report Field Observations".
Comments From Observers
From FLORIDA:
February 23, 1996
Here in Gainsville, the winter is so short that some trees drop their old leaves AND leaf-out at almost the same time! In fact, I'm planning to rake the leaves this weekend that have finally fallen from our oaks. Dogwood came into bloom on February 17th and we've had redbuds for two weeks, since February 5th. Francis Lane, Oak Hall School, Gainsville, Florida ohsmedia@gnv.fdt.net
From: LOUISIANA
February 20, 1996
We have had the coldest winter that we have had since 1989 so our trees are still not leafed out. I was looking at all the bare branches this afternoon. Local lore has it that spring is not definitely on its way until the pecan trees leaf out. Some trees are fooled because we frequently have warm weather then another cold spell. Today the temperature was in the 70's. We'll keep you posted when the trees start to bud. Janice Catledge and Class Harte Elementary, New Orleans MAWSE@jazz.ucc.uno.edu
From: TEXAS
February 15
Leaf-out responses are slow from Texas because the cold weather keeps freezing the buds on the trees. Even the ash trees which are usually out by now bear black frozen buds. We've also had NO rain for months and so the trees are both droughty and cold. There has been some warm weather interspersed with the cold - but those single digit and teens a couple of weeks ago really zapped all the growth on everything. Spring will be later this year. Kathy Kothman, College Station, Texas kathyk@tenet.edu
From TEXAS:
February 21
Leaf-out! I'm not sure this is possible in Texas. Many of our deciduous trees keep some of their leaves all year. We are also in a very strange weather pattern. San Antonio, Texas had 100 degrees today, an all time record. Houston set an all time high of 89 degrees five degrees higher than it has ever been here. The red bud (tiny pink flowers) are already blooming on our red bud trees. These flowers bloom before the tree leaves appear. They are really the first sign of Spring and a beautiful one at that.
In January, we had two hard freezes (20 degrees for us) It froze all the tall grasses and many other plants. Currently we are behind in rainfall and 4,000 acres of forest land and fields have burned in separate fires north of Houston. We have a very serious threat to homes, as 11-12 homes have burnt in the past week.
I will take a close look at the trees on our school campus, but I think most of them are like water oaks and they have kept their leaves. They are green. I can hardly wait until our school gets its direct connect to Internet so we can send you digital pictures from our digital camera. Last year in March, we took 21 pictures of wildflowers on our school grounds. This year we have a new close up lens, but because of our lack of rain, they are predicting a very poor year for wildflowers. Jane Ann Holzapfel, Clifton Middle School, Houston, Texas jholzapf@tenet.edu
From TEXAS:
February 21
The redbud blossoms appeared on February 16, this year--but the leaves will not come out for another week or so when the blooms fade. We also have azeleas ready to bloom--they may have already opened since I came to school this morning.Judith Keese Leland, Houston, Texas joleland@tenet.edu
Students Respond to Challenge Question #4: "What does deciduous mean?"
From VERMONT:
Roger Crowley (rcrowley@plainfield.bypass.com) It means broad leaf or the opposite of needlelike trees. Broadleaf or deciduous like trees include: Maple,Oak, Elm and so on
From Estabrook School:
Deciduous means leaves falling off of trees at the end of a season or growing period.Matt,Sara and Adam. esta@cybercom.net
From ONTARIO:
Deciduous means a tree or forest of tree that lose their leaves in the fall and reproduce in the spring. Like the red maple. By Jennifer & Nancy, Scott Young Public School syoung@web.apc.org
From NEW YORK:
Mrs. Berger's Class has the definition of deciduous. It means falling off as at the end of a growing period or stage of development like trees that lose their leaves. Mrs. Berger's Class, East Hills School, Roslyn, NY ehills@dorsai.org
How to Respond to Challenge Question #17:
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of the message write: Challenge Question #17.
3. In the body of the message, answer this question.
"At what minimum average daily temperture do you think deciduous trees leaf-out in the springtime? Why?"
Please include your school name and the state/province in which you live.We'll share your ideas and those of other students in future reports. You can also see students' answers to Challenge Questions on Journey North's WWW site.
The Next Leaf-Out Update Will be Posted on March 8, 1996
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