April 2017
April Showers: rain your feedback upon us! 
Virgina Bluebell. Patuxent Research Refuge. Photo by volunteer Jean Larson
Thank you for all the valuable observations!  In addition to all the cherry blossom submissions we're receiving data on everything from Eastern red cedar to flowering dogwood; from Virginia Bluebells to Pacific trillium. We need one other submission...

            YOUR BudBurst Participant Survey!  

Help Project BudBurst improve the website, provide useful resources, and expand our horizons to include a few collaborative and focused projects!  

Results will be shared in our next newsletter! 
 
                 --H. Jean Bryan, Director
 
Save the Date: CSA 520 to be offered this Summer 
Citizen Science Academy (CSA) returns this summer with CSA 520 - Introduction to Citizen Science: Explorations in Educational Settings.  This online, self-directed course composed of 5 units begins on July 11th and ends August 11th.  Offered through the Chicago Botanic Garden; an optional, two graduate credits, will be available through the Teacher Enhancement Program of the Colorado School of Mines.     

Watch for registration information in the next newsletter.  
Timing is Everything:
The Impacts of Changes in Phenology
Janet Meakin Poor Research Symposium
Chicago Botanic Garden

June 12, 2017

Phenology is the study of the timing of natural events such as plant flowering and fruiting and animal migrations. This timing is critical for relationships between species; plants need to bloom when their pollinators are present, birds and insects need to hatch or migrate when food is available, and so on. As the climate changes some phenological events are also changing, which can disrupt these important relationships. This symposium will look at phenological change, how to assess it, and what it means for population dynamics of plants and their relationships with other species.

Speakers include: Paul CaraDonna, Emily Meineke, Susana Wadgymar, Jennifer Ison, Elsa Cleland, Jeff Diez, and Sarah Newman,

  Register at the Chicago Botanic Garden
The Many Faces of Project BudBurst
American Elm at full flower
March 9th, KY
Photo by Bryan Thompson 
Project BudBurst would not exist without the enthusiasm and dedication of our thousands of participants and supporters. Below are just a few folks we'd like to recognize this month:

Bryan T.
Sarah B. F.
Kat B.
Calab S.
Ken L. 
Jean L.


Nature's Calendar - Cherry Blossom Blitz Update! 
Black Cherry in Bud Burst March 14, 2017
Photo by Bryan Thompson
Cherry Blossom Blitz!  So many reports on both blossoms and leafing. Here are a few locations for which we've recently received reports
 
Full Flower 
Cherry (other)  (OK) 
Chokecherry  (MT, CO) 
Sweet Cherry  (CA) 

First Leaf
Sour Cherry (CO) 
Sweet Cherry  (CA) 
Bud Burst 
Cherry (other)  (NC, NJ) 
Black Cherry (KY) 

Flowering (Middle) 


Get Started with Project BudBurst Now
Forsythia in full flower and under snow. Photo by Jean Bryan
  • Choose a Plant by State or Plant Group - What's near you?  In your backyard.  Make it an easy plant to access or one you like to visit regularly!
     
  • Download Data - Project BudBurst data, readily available.
     
  • Educator Resources - K-12 teachers... and informal teachers as well:  Teaching a unit on Spring or an afternoon workshop on climate change? Look here for ideas and resources.
     
  • My BudBurst  - Register here to start submitting your observations.