April 17, 2006
This photograph was taken last year in the David C. Lam Asian Garden at UBC on April 10. If the weather forecast for this week is correct, a similar scene should be visible this weekend. The cool spring weather in the local area has contributed to a closer-to-average timing of flowering for many plant species, unlike last year's early display. While such phenomena as flowering times vary from one year to the next, studying the long-term trends can help inform about climatic changes on scales from micro- to regional to global. The recording and comparison of the timing of recurring natural events is known as phenology.
One of these days, I'm going to whip up a quick database to help the Friends of the Garden post the results of their fifteen year (or longer?) phenological observations of the magnolias at UBC.
Another note for local readers: I've two presentations in the next two weeks, both to the Vancouver Natural History Society. This Thursday, I'm presenting to the VNHS Botany section on “Plants of the Southwestern United States�?featuring photographs from my recent trip. On the following Thursday, I'm presenting on John Davidson at the VNHS Annual General Meeting.
Photography resource link: Artful Vacation Photos, an article by photographer Gloria Hopkins on capturing images with a bit of stylistic flair during your travels.