Bursting buds

With the recent sunny weather spring has finally sprung and the buds are bursting into blooms and leaves. The barren branches of many trees are consciously showing their green leaves as the sap is streaming through the branches. Suddenly nature comes alive!

The Corkscrew willow (left) not only has twisted twigs but the leaves curl as they mature. Hence we used to call this the Curly willow when I was young. Young leaves, like these of the Juneberry, are often covered in soft hairs to protect the developing tissues from harmful sunrays. The Blueberry flowers simultaneously with the unfolding of the leaves. The flowers are like little waxy cups.

Some plants, like for instance ferns, unfold their leaves in a rather dramatic manner by uncoiling along the central stipe (or leaf stalk). Other plants, like this Photinia, show dramatically coloured new growth that contrasts heavily with the older green leaves. Most leaves however slowly unfold bursting the bud. The fresh green of the young leaves of this Kalopanax (right) bring the spiny branches to life.