Buds Bursting

Horse chestnut bud bursting, 13 April 2016 (photo by Kate St. John)
Horse chestnut bud bursting, 13 April 2016 (photo by Kate St. John)

Last week’s cold weather was deadly for flowering trees but good for those still in bud.

A hard freeze on April 5 —  23 o F — wiped out the early-blooming trees in Schenley Park.  Most of the eastern redbuds had already flowered so Schenley’s redbud display this year is anemic.

On the other hand, buds that were closed 10 days ago are in good shape now.  On Wednesday I found a horse chestnut bud about to burst (above) and one with leaves and flower stack already emerged (below).

Horse chestnut leaves and flowers stack emerged from bud, 13 April 2016 (photo by Kate St. John)
Horse chestnut leaves and flowers stack emerged from bud, 13 April 2016 (photo by Kate St. John)

 

Even the hickories are getting into the act.

Mockernut hickory bud opening, Schenley Park, 13 April 2016 (photo by Kate St. John)
Mockernut hickory bud opening, Schenley Park, 13 April 2016 (photo by Kate St. John)

 

Check out your neighborhood for emerging leaves and flowers. Buds are opening fast in this weekend’s warm weather.

 

(photos by Kate St. John)

6 thoughts on “Buds Bursting

  1. My daffodils and tulips have been very confused! Weather has been so back and forth, they don’t know what to do.

    At least the “street” trees have enjoyed it. Their white blossoms have been magnificent for the past 3-4 weeks. Are they plane trees? I should know what they are, but I don’t.
    Anne

    1. Anne, they are probably Callery pears. Not really pears — a cultivated tree from Asia.

  2. In really cold years, the horsechestnut and buckeye leaves and flowers that burst from the buds are thick with orange hairs. This was a warm winter, almost no fuzz on your photo.

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