I returned to my tree over the weekend to observe phenological changes that may have occured. As a reminder, my tree is an American Beech located in Centennial Woods. It’s on a slope above Centennial Brook, surrounded by several other beech stems.
As you can see in this picture, there has been some bud development! The buds on the tree are much longer and fuller than they were last time I visited. They still have not bloomed or broken through yet, but they are much larger than they were previously. This is a sign that they are getting close to blooming, and a distinct sign of the phenological changes that are occuring as the winter turns to spring.
In addition to the new growth on my tree, there was also a lot more undergrowth that has sprouted up since I last was there. Ferns and grasses are starting to grow again, breaking through the soil. The woods are looking much more alive as things begin to grow.