Phenology: Plantwatch and the Science of Spring

Keeping track of nature’s sense of timing is how the plants say “spring.” Elisabeth Beaubien, a researcher based at the University of Alberta’s Devonian Botanic Garden, has one of the most unusual jobs you’ll find; she directs a project that documents the arrival of spring. Now in its third year, Plantwatch is a network of student scientists and teachers who share their observations of the bloom dates of certain plants and then compile the info on a world wide web site. Ms. Beaubien spoke with Steve Curwood from Edmonton, Alberta in Canada.