releafing
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Fred Schueler
Aug 21, 2025, 10:58:45 AMAug 21
to Eastern Ontario Natural History listserve
Everyone,
Since we've had so many trees and shrubs whose leaves have dried in the
continuing drought, I've looked back to previous droughts to see which
species and circumstances had regrowth of leaves in the fall after the
droughts broke.
fred.
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - https://fragileinheritance.ca/
2024 annual letter: https://clt1233162.bmeurl.co/11E63979
6 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
------------------------------------------------------------
EOBase Narrative - filtered by "releaf"$LIFE_STAGE
31 October 1999
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Craig Road extension/4.9 km W
Hutchins Corners. (50m waypoint(assumed)), 31B/13, 44.92961° N 75.76087°
W TIME: 1640. AIR TEMP: circa 16°C, clear, breezy. HABITAT: roadside
brushy mixed deciduous woods. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler. 99/208/f,
Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn) (Plant). 6/dominant shrub, releaf,
seen. WAYPT/068, shrubs with 15 mm-wide new leaves on most branches.
There's one 40 cm branch with new 25 cm leaves - this is the first
for-sure releafing we've seen in driving up Bolton Road from Bishops Mills.
18 November 2001
moved 8.26km SE.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Oxford-on-Rideau: Elsas Pond, 0.4 km
SSE Bishops Mills. (50m ard pond), 44.86945° N 75.69932° W TIME:
1625-1635. AIR TEMP: 8°C, sunset, clear, windy. HABITAT: brimful
excavated sandy/limestone vernal pond in brushy oldfield. OBSERVER:
Frederick W. Schueler. 2001/228/ca, Rhamnus frangula (Shining
(Frangulous) Buckthorn) (Plant). 1/common shrub, releaf, specimen, seen.
leaves drought-fallen, extens. releafing, some still green. Remaining
leaves are scattered, some dingy others clear yellow.
(same location) 2001/228/cb, Spiraea alba (Meadowsweet) (Plant).
1/dominant shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, extens.
releafing, 30% of full canopy. A few leaves are still green, but most
are turning yellow or dingy. This is the species that made the most
complete recovery of general canopy after the drought.
(same location) 2001/228/cc, Salix cf discolor (Pussy Willow) (Plant).
1/few shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, extens.
releafing on this 3 m shrub. . . . and a few others. Many of the Salix
(Willow) around the pond were killed by the 1999 drought, and many
didn't releaf this time - as if the stems were killed.
(same location) 2001/228/cd, Salix (Willow) (Plant). 1/few shrub,
releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, extens. releafing on
island shrub. This is a dense 2 m shrub on the residual island in the
middle of the pond.
(same location) 2001/228/ce, Populus balsamifera (Balsam Poplar)
(Plant). few shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, green
releafing on tops of sprouts. . . . these are the same 3-4 m narrow
sprout-like trees that releafed in 1999.
(same location) 2001/228/cf, Cornus stolonifera (Red-osier Dogwood)
(Plant). dominant shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-dead, 1
1 m shrub with some releafing tufts. This species releafed very sparsely
- this is only the second instance I've seen, and the leaves are still
adherant, though browning. Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar) here
hasn't died.
19 November 2001
moved 267m NNW.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Bishops Mills:S side(Schuelers).
(150m ard homesite), 44.87156° N 75.70095° W TIME: 1145. AIR TEMP:
14.5°C, sunny, light overcast, windy. HABITAT: lawn of rural village,
shallow soil limestone plain. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler.
FWS0111191145/b, Acer negundo (Manitoba Maple) (Plant). codominant tree,
sprout, releaf, forage. tufts of small leaves on 1-1.3 m shoots near
fence. . . . between our land and Organs. These are the only regrown
leaves I've seen on this species anywheres since the drought. They're
shrivelling now, but still partially green.
There was no releafing by an Acer rubrum (Red Maple) or Acer saccharum
(Sugar Maple).
(same location) FWS0111191145/c, Rubus occidentalis (Black Raspberry)
(Plant). codominant shrub, releaf, forage. numerous tufts of leaves
along branches since drought. . . . and many of them still green and
'alive'-looking.
3 December 2001
moved 34m SE.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Bishops Mills:S side(Schuelers). (50m
waypoint), 44.87133° N 75.70067° W TIME: 1331. AIR TEMP: 9°C, sunny,
breezy. HABITAT: thickets around shallow-soil lawn, rural village,
shallow soil limestone plain. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler.
2001/235/b, Pyrus melanocarpa (not listed) (Plant). 2/codominant shrub,
releaf, specimen. WAYPT/001F, 30 cm releafed shoot aft
drought-defoliation. Other taller shoots nearby yellowing and shedding
leaves. Some stems still with green leaves on 21 December. No releafing
on nearby Prunus nigra (Canada Plum) and Acer negundo.
moved 38m S.
Bishops Mills:S side(field behind Schuelers). (50m waypoint), 44.87099°
N 75.70072° W TIME: 1333. AIR TEMP: 9°C, sunny, breezy. HABITAT: shallow
soil brushy limestone oldfield. 2001/235/c, Syringa vulgaris (Common
Lilac) (Plant). 1/common shrub, releaf, in bloom, specimen. WAYPT/002,
1.8 m shrub, 1 of 2 unseasonable flowerheads. Most releaved foliage has
fallen, but some shorter shrubs retain more leaves than this. Some stems
still with green leaves on 21 December.
13 October 2011
moved 139m SSE.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Twin Ashes/0.3 km SSE Bishops Mills.
(100m ard site), 44.86993° N 75.69978° W TIME: 1405. AIR TEMP: circa
17°C, overcast, breezy. HABITAT: shallow-soil limestone oldfield near
small Ash trees. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler, Tom Graham, OHLA
group. 2011/291/c, Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn) (Plant). common
shrub, releaf, seen. small tufts of releafing on leafless oldfield
shrubs. Though in less water-stressed areas, the foliage is still 50%
intact and green. It's striking how black and leafless the oldfield
shrubs are.
Since we've had so many trees and shrubs whose leaves have dried in the
continuing drought, I've looked back to previous droughts to see which
species and circumstances had regrowth of leaves in the fall after the
droughts broke.
fred.
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - https://fragileinheritance.ca/
2024 annual letter: https://clt1233162.bmeurl.co/11E63979
6 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
------------------------------------------------------------
EOBase Narrative - filtered by "releaf"$LIFE_STAGE
31 October 1999
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Craig Road extension/4.9 km W
Hutchins Corners. (50m waypoint(assumed)), 31B/13, 44.92961° N 75.76087°
W TIME: 1640. AIR TEMP: circa 16°C, clear, breezy. HABITAT: roadside
brushy mixed deciduous woods. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler. 99/208/f,
Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn) (Plant). 6/dominant shrub, releaf,
seen. WAYPT/068, shrubs with 15 mm-wide new leaves on most branches.
There's one 40 cm branch with new 25 cm leaves - this is the first
for-sure releafing we've seen in driving up Bolton Road from Bishops Mills.
18 November 2001
moved 8.26km SE.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Oxford-on-Rideau: Elsas Pond, 0.4 km
SSE Bishops Mills. (50m ard pond), 44.86945° N 75.69932° W TIME:
1625-1635. AIR TEMP: 8°C, sunset, clear, windy. HABITAT: brimful
excavated sandy/limestone vernal pond in brushy oldfield. OBSERVER:
Frederick W. Schueler. 2001/228/ca, Rhamnus frangula (Shining
(Frangulous) Buckthorn) (Plant). 1/common shrub, releaf, specimen, seen.
leaves drought-fallen, extens. releafing, some still green. Remaining
leaves are scattered, some dingy others clear yellow.
(same location) 2001/228/cb, Spiraea alba (Meadowsweet) (Plant).
1/dominant shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, extens.
releafing, 30% of full canopy. A few leaves are still green, but most
are turning yellow or dingy. This is the species that made the most
complete recovery of general canopy after the drought.
(same location) 2001/228/cc, Salix cf discolor (Pussy Willow) (Plant).
1/few shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, extens.
releafing on this 3 m shrub. . . . and a few others. Many of the Salix
(Willow) around the pond were killed by the 1999 drought, and many
didn't releaf this time - as if the stems were killed.
(same location) 2001/228/cd, Salix (Willow) (Plant). 1/few shrub,
releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, extens. releafing on
island shrub. This is a dense 2 m shrub on the residual island in the
middle of the pond.
(same location) 2001/228/ce, Populus balsamifera (Balsam Poplar)
(Plant). few shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-fallen, green
releafing on tops of sprouts. . . . these are the same 3-4 m narrow
sprout-like trees that releafed in 1999.
(same location) 2001/228/cf, Cornus stolonifera (Red-osier Dogwood)
(Plant). dominant shrub, releaf, specimen, seen. leaves drought-dead, 1
1 m shrub with some releafing tufts. This species releafed very sparsely
- this is only the second instance I've seen, and the leaves are still
adherant, though browning. Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar) here
hasn't died.
19 November 2001
moved 267m NNW.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Bishops Mills:S side(Schuelers).
(150m ard homesite), 44.87156° N 75.70095° W TIME: 1145. AIR TEMP:
14.5°C, sunny, light overcast, windy. HABITAT: lawn of rural village,
shallow soil limestone plain. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler.
FWS0111191145/b, Acer negundo (Manitoba Maple) (Plant). codominant tree,
sprout, releaf, forage. tufts of small leaves on 1-1.3 m shoots near
fence. . . . between our land and Organs. These are the only regrown
leaves I've seen on this species anywheres since the drought. They're
shrivelling now, but still partially green.
There was no releafing by an Acer rubrum (Red Maple) or Acer saccharum
(Sugar Maple).
(same location) FWS0111191145/c, Rubus occidentalis (Black Raspberry)
(Plant). codominant shrub, releaf, forage. numerous tufts of leaves
along branches since drought. . . . and many of them still green and
'alive'-looking.
3 December 2001
moved 34m SE.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Bishops Mills:S side(Schuelers). (50m
waypoint), 44.87133° N 75.70067° W TIME: 1331. AIR TEMP: 9°C, sunny,
breezy. HABITAT: thickets around shallow-soil lawn, rural village,
shallow soil limestone plain. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler.
2001/235/b, Pyrus melanocarpa (not listed) (Plant). 2/codominant shrub,
releaf, specimen. WAYPT/001F, 30 cm releafed shoot aft
drought-defoliation. Other taller shoots nearby yellowing and shedding
leaves. Some stems still with green leaves on 21 December. No releafing
on nearby Prunus nigra (Canada Plum) and Acer negundo.
moved 38m S.
Bishops Mills:S side(field behind Schuelers). (50m waypoint), 44.87099°
N 75.70072° W TIME: 1333. AIR TEMP: 9°C, sunny, breezy. HABITAT: shallow
soil brushy limestone oldfield. 2001/235/c, Syringa vulgaris (Common
Lilac) (Plant). 1/common shrub, releaf, in bloom, specimen. WAYPT/002,
1.8 m shrub, 1 of 2 unseasonable flowerheads. Most releaved foliage has
fallen, but some shorter shrubs retain more leaves than this. Some stems
still with green leaves on 21 December.
13 October 2011
moved 139m SSE.
Canada: Ontario: Grenville County: Twin Ashes/0.3 km SSE Bishops Mills.
(100m ard site), 44.86993° N 75.69978° W TIME: 1405. AIR TEMP: circa
17°C, overcast, breezy. HABITAT: shallow-soil limestone oldfield near
small Ash trees. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler, Tom Graham, OHLA
group. 2011/291/c, Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn) (Plant). common
shrub, releaf, seen. small tufts of releafing on leafless oldfield
shrubs. Though in less water-stressed areas, the foliage is still 50%
intact and green. It's striking how black and leafless the oldfield
shrubs are.
rmb...@istar.ca
Aug 21, 2025, 11:21:22 AMAug 21
to natur...@googlegroups.com
I'll have to keep an eye out when I walk my woods looking for dead
trees for firewood this next week. Seems a little late for
re-leafing. I've seen trees re-leaf in early July after an outbreak
of tent caterpillars and especially after that infestation of spongy
moths about 3 years ago, huge oak trees had dropped their leaves, most
of which had been stripped by the caterpillars. Seemed weird to see
fresh new leaves sprouting in July. But we had enough rain that year
to sustain them. A long-shot brain fart, but would the trees and
shrubs sense that we will get more rain now and take the chance of
putting the energy into re-leafing rather than just go dormant til
spring? We had nice showers Tuesday evening and overnight into
Wednesday, amazing to see how the foliage "freshens up" after a good
soaking.
Rose-Marie
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trees for firewood this next week. Seems a little late for
re-leafing. I've seen trees re-leaf in early July after an outbreak
of tent caterpillars and especially after that infestation of spongy
moths about 3 years ago, huge oak trees had dropped their leaves, most
of which had been stripped by the caterpillars. Seemed weird to see
fresh new leaves sprouting in July. But we had enough rain that year
to sustain them. A long-shot brain fart, but would the trees and
shrubs sense that we will get more rain now and take the chance of
putting the energy into re-leafing rather than just go dormant til
spring? We had nice showers Tuesday evening and overnight into
Wednesday, amazing to see how the foliage "freshens up" after a good
soaking.
Rose-Marie
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "NatureList" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to naturelist+...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/naturelist/e3503f52-dd29-488c-a1fe-f4fec2bee04e%40istar.ca.
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