Feature Article March 27, 2003
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Trees in BloomSpring - and the welcome song of the Killdeer calling over the fields; the distinctive quork of the early Wood Frog; the glimpse of a Mourning Cloak butterfly flitting past; the greening of the grass washed by the spring rains; the first Common Dandelion poking up its head by the path - all harbingers of more delights to follow. But lets not forget the trees that have been here all winter enduring the cold winds and the snow. They, too, are welcoming spring and the returning warmth of the sun and are responding in a variety of ways.
In Victoria and Washington the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, but we do not have that luxury here. Those who have Forsythia planted along the edge of their lawns will welcome the bright yellow flowers. We watch for the Pussy Willows to break their buds and emerge as soft white catkins, which will later be covered with yellow stamens. We welcome the sight of the Serviceberries, both Downy and Smooth, covered with the hanging clusters of white flowers, which appear in April or May with the unfolding leaves. All shrubs and trees will be preparing to bloom, some early, some later; some in vivid colour and some almost undetectable with tiny blossoms; some with pollen which the allergy sufferers will not welcome, but all in response to spring.
The deciduous trees will usually bloom before the leaves or with the unfolding leaves, and the poplars will bear small, almost stalkless flowers of one sex on an individual tree before the leaves. The flowers will be arranged on flexible stems as clusters that hang limply. The shed clusters may look like lifeless caterpillars under the tree. The Black Walnut flowers also appear as the trees are leafing out, but with both sexes on the same tree - necessary because the walnut trees are intolerant of competition and usually found as single trees. Birch flowers are fully developed before the leaves begin to appear, with both male and female flowers on the same tree.
The different maples have diverse flowers - some without petals, some with male organs or female organs only, and some with both sexes in the same flower. Some of the flowers which produce nectar are insect-pollinated, while others are wind-pollinated. The red flowers of the Red Maple appear before the leaves, with male and female flowers usually in different clusters on the same tree or on different trees. Those of the Sugar Maple appear with the unfolding leaves, hanging in tassel-like clusters.
Lets not forget the coniferous trees. The pines have male cones clustered at the base of new spring growth, which disintegrate after pollen release. The female hanging cones may occur singly, in pairs or in whorls, take two years to mature and they are the cones we see or collect after they have matured. The tiny cones of the Tamarack or Eastern Larch are erect, and persist on the tree throughout winter and the following summer. The various hemlocks have both male and female cones on the same tree, but the cones mature in a single season.
It is a challenge to see and recognize the flowers of the various trees - but another marvel of nature to a discerning eye!
Observations: Helm in Oconto had a Pileated Woodpecker on Mar 16. Janet McMaken in Sharbot Lake has a Southern Flying Squirrel visiting each night, and also has seen a Pileated Woodpecker. Joan Lindey, Kashwakamak Lake, had 10 Evening Grosbeaks on Mar 20 (2 about a week before), and has had 5 Flying Squirrels coming to her feeders. Bill Kennett had a female Red-winged Blackbird among about 35 males on Mar 21 the females usually come a couple of weeks later. With the warmer weather there should be a surge of returning migrants - let me know what you see. 268-2518.
