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Timing is Everything!
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Plants which grow in forested areas have to squeeze their
growth spurts into a very tight window, between the spring
thaw and the appearance of leaves on the trees overhead.
That's why the forest floor explodes into bloom in May and
June. You can hear the new growth pushing the dried leaves
from last year out of their way in their rush to get as
much solar energy as possible. These plants rely heavily
on the bumblebees of early spring, who get a head start
on the rest of the insect world due to their fuzzy coats.
The so-called "Spring Ephemerals" store energy for next
season in bulbs and tubers and conserve energy by producing
a small number of large seeds. They are banking on a
relatively stable environment from year to year.
Other Forest Life
Insects
live in the bark and wood of trees, in the upper leaves
and in the dead leaves on the forest floor. There are also small
mammals such as mice. Birds eat insects and mice, as well seeds,
buds and berries. Animals and birds schedule their nesting period
for when food is most abundant.
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