February Morning at Horn Springs {acrylic on canvas | 24 x 18}
So, how do tress know when to burst bud in the spring? I read this really interesting interview with Professor Malcolm Campbell. He explains this bursting of buds is the result of a complex program designed by the trees over tens of thousands of years. It all depends on a number of factors occurring throughout the year—and variation in one factor can change the timing of trees’ buds bursting in the spring.
The program is actually set up in autumn, when dropping temperatures and longer nights (shorter days) make the tree go dormant. In spring, the inverse (among other cues) is the trigger.
Trees also need to experience a minimum number of cold nights and a certain amount of warm days to burst bud. We will have to wait and see how climate change affects this orchestration.