Today I revisited my birch tree in Centennial woods. Due to warmer spring weather, most of the snow from my last visit has melted. Apart from the rise in temperature, the forest and birch tree has remained unchanged to the casual viewer. The branches of the tree are too high to determine any bud changes, however, the surrounding trees are the same. I expect that in the upcoming weeks this will change. In late March, the phenological changes in birch trees in the United States start to become visible. The trees begin to show signs of new growth, with buds growing and leaf buds beginning to break. The emergence of new leaves is a critical event in the tree’s life cycle, as it marks the start of the photosynthetic process that will sustain it throughout the year. As the days lengthen and temperatures rise, the birch trees will continue to grow and mature, eventually producing flowers and seeds. These phenological changes are a vital part of the ecosystem, providing food and habitat for a wide range of animals and insects, and signaling the beginning of spring.