Plant Lovers' Almanac: A more detailed look at harbingers of spring

In this Akron Beacon Journal article, Dan Herms, vice president of research and development at the Davey Institute, talks about when certain plants will flower and insects will emerge in spring. 

Phenology 

Now is the time of year when “phenology” is most fun and functional. As Dan Herms, vice president of research and development at The Davey Tree Expert Co. and formerly chair of the Ohio State University Entomology Department, defines it: Phenology “is the world’s oldest science; the foundational science of human existence.”

So, what is it? In broad terms it is the “study of recurring biological events,” the way that early harvesters and gatherers and then farmers figured out when to plant: It matches biological phenomena with triggering environmental conditions, predicting bird migrations, seed germination, when plants will flower. 

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