The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
The Ozarks Agrarian News
December 2017
**** Kid’s Field Guide **** Exploring Twigs in Winter The Language of Nature Everything in nature has a way of expressing itself. Humankind has learned so much by simply observing the natural world. As creatures who like to communicate what we see, people have created words todescribe their observations. Getting familiar with some of these descriptive terms expands our own language, giving us a way to talk about what we see. Even in the winter time, nature can speak to us. Each plant has a particular pattern of growth. In dormancy, these patterns are used for identification. Even a simple twig can tell a lot about a woody plant.
Every feature of a twig or branch gives us more identification clues. Get outside and write down what you find. What color is the bark? Is it smooth or rough? Is the bud terminal(at the tip) or off to the side? Use these words in your observations, and soon they will be like a second language to you! Arrangement – How the twigs are growing from the branch. Size – How thick or thin the twig is. Pith – The texture on the inside of the twig. Buds – How the buds are arranged on the twig. Bud Scales – How many protective scales cover the bud. Lenticels – Raised pores along the twig. Leaf Scar – The mark left on the twig after the leaf falls. For a fun challenge, check out a field guide with full stretches and try to ID some of the twigs you’ve found.