The Bud in Its Winter Coat

On a cold day, a little snow lay beside the woodland path. Puschel stopped at a low twig. Its leaves were gone, but small brown packages sat near its ends.

Puschel“Tiny sleeping bags! Perhaps very small Wusels stay inside them.”

Flauschi stood beside him and held the green magnifying glass a little way from one package. Small pieces overlapped on the outside. Puschel kept both paws in front of his tummy.

Flauschi“These are buds. The tree has prepared young plant parts inside. Depending on the bud, leaves, flowers or a new length of twig can grow from it later. No little Wusels live inside.”

Puschel looked more closely at the brown covering. Flauschi explained that the small protective pieces were called bud scales. In many trees they help protect the delicate inside from weather and drying out. Drying out means losing too much water.

Puschel“Then it is a winter coat for tomorrow’s leaf. But without pockets for nuts.”

Flauschi“That is a helpful comparison. But the coat is not a heater, and we do not take it off. We cannot see for sure what is inside this closed bud.”

Flauschi explained that many trees form their buds before winter. When conditions are right in spring, the buds can grow and open. Not every tree starts on the same day.

Puschel“Then I will come back later. Perhaps this package will become a green hello.”

They remembered the twig without carving a mark or breaking anything off. Puschel walked on happily. He did not need to open a package to know that a bare tree had not simply finished growing.