Don't let the winter chill fool you, beneath the frosted landscapes and bare branches, life is stirring in the form of tiny, resilient leaf and flower buds. So next time you see a seemingly lifeless branch, remember: it's not the end, it's just a pause. Within those tiny buds lies the promise of life awaiting to burst forth at the first sign of spring.
Find information to plan your visit here. Reposted from the Red Butte Garden blog. Photos by Glenn Eurick, Kaitlyn Kotar, Heidi M. Simper, and Jason W. Baker.
Prairifire Crabapple (Malus 'Prairifire')
Stubbornly refusing to let go, last year's leaf petioles cling on just below this year's dormant bud.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Butte Garden
Prairifire Crabapple (Malus 'Prairifire')
Download Full-Res ImageHorse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii')
Horse Chestnut buds are covered in a sticky resin. This resin creates a waterproof seal that lets the bud grow nice and big before they pop open later in the spring.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Butte Garden
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii')
Download Full-Res ImageSweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon')
Sweetgum buds are mixed buds, meaning they contain both leaves and flowers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Butte Garden
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon')
Download Full-Res ImageLoebner Magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill')
The soft hairs covering Magnolia buds insulate the delicate flower or leaf tissue inside the bud from the harsh winter elements, such as freezing temperatures and drying winds.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Butte Garden
Loebner Magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill')
Download Full-Res ImageChokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
The outer layer of bud scales are typically made of modified leaves.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Butte Garden
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Download Full-Res ImageLilac (Syringa reticulata)
While hairs provide insulation in fuzzy buds, hairless buds often rely on other mechanisms like thicker scales, waxy coatings, or internal adaptations to protect themselves.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Butte Garden
Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
Download Full-Res ImageLittle Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
Although fuzzy buds often steal the show, hairless buds offer their own unique elegance and showcase the fascinating diversity of dormant plant buds.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Baker/Red Butte Garden
Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
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MEDIA & PR CONTACTS
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Mindy Wilson
Director of marketing and public relations, Red Butte Garden
801.581.4938 mindy.wilson@redbutte.utah.edu