05/12/2026
The forest canopy is finally starting to show signs of green as the leaves and catkins begin to emerge from their budding stage. Poplar bud season was a little later than usual this year, but it did not disappoint. 🌳✨
The sticky icky resinous buds of the Poplar tree are one of my favorites to forage out of all the plants I work with. The sensory experience of picking Poplar buds is one I quite enjoy – I love the buds’ distinct cinnamon and pine-like scent, and getting sticky fingers from the resin reminds me of being a kid and not caring about getting messy.
Poplar buds are one of the first things I look for after the winter has loosened its grip on the landscape. The foraging window for Poplar buds is quite narrow – to catch them at their peak resinous stage before they unfurl takes patience, a discerning eye, and multiple trips to the same spots to check on the trees.
Aldo Leopold, a well-renowned naturalist and conservationist, describes geese as "the heralds of spring". When we hear the birds’ distinct calls in the sky, we know the warmer weather and longer days are just around the corner. For me, Poplar bud season heralds the return of spring and the landscape waking up after a long winter’s rest. 🌞
What plant or creature do you consider to be a herald of springtime? If you like to forage, what plant(s) are you looking forward to finding this spring or summer? Let me know in the comments! ✨