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How Do Plants Know It's Spring?

Jason Ferrell/Flickr Creative Commons

Most of our native trees are preparing to sprout their 2016 crop of leaves. Only a few weeks ago, they were barren and covered in snow. But soon there will be an explosion of new life.

It’s amazing. How does it happen?

Over-simplified, plants need water, light, warmth and soil to grow. During spring, they get all the conditions they need. Frequent showers give them the water they require. Longer days mean they have more daylight and warmth from the sun. But there’s more to it than just that.

W. Brooks Paternotte took the helm of Irvine Nature Center as executive director in July 2013 and immediately began building on the strong 35-year foundation. Brooks is a Baltimore native who was a teacher, coach, advisor, dean and Head of the Middle School during his 13 years at Boys’ Latin School in Baltimore. He is also an instructor and ambassador of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and is a Leave No Trace Master, as well as an avid outdoorsman and a features writer for FlyLife Magazine.
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