03-20-16 Phenology Field Note

03-20-16 Phenology Field Note

March 21, 2016

Prairie Wolfe's plant phenology field note shows new spring shoots and early flowers.

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Phenology Field Note New Greens and Early Flowers March 21, 2016 Prairie Wolfe

Phenology locations

An elk track creates a snow window, revealing miniscule seedlings and green grass.

Cous biscuitroot already had flower buds when phenology data collection began in the first week of March (Lomatium cous, Native)

Many yellow bells emerge from the ground budding. This is one of our earlier native flowering species (Fritillaria pudica, Native).

Leafy spurge reaches two to three inches in sites with warmer microclimates (Euphorbia esula, Whaley).

Grass cover varies across the Restoration Zone. Annual weed cover is much lower where perennial bulbous bluegrass is well established. Although this grass is also nonnative, it may help us control more problematic species.

Weeds generally associated with agricultural areas benefited most from warm days in February. The occasional stork’s bill can be found flowering the Center Pivot (Erodium cicutarium).