Bird cherry: flowering time in different regions of Russia
Bird cherry poems and songs are devoted. It grows almost everywhere and in the spring it fills with its wondrous smell many yards and streets.This shrub does not require special rules of care and conditions, but rather beautiful during flowering and prolific. Like any plant, bird cherry also has flowering cycles, but with a difference depending on the place of growth. About this and talk in the article.
Description
Bird cherry tree has the form of a tree or large shrub that reaches a height of 10 to 15 meters. The bark of her trunk is dark, the shape of the leaves is oblong-elliptical, they are alternately arranged. It is noteworthy that on the cuttings of the leaves there is a pair of glands that secrete nectar; it attracts ants, which, in turn, protect it from pest larvae.
Flowering plant begins in May or June. Fruits in the form of spherical drupes appear by the end of summer. The flowering period occurs rapidly and every year, but the plant is not able to bear fruit every year due to the violent attack of pests.
The flowers of the shrub are white, sometimes pink, collected in one brush and have a pronounced strong sweet smell. On one brush can be up to 40 flowers.
Previously, this fragrant beauty was used as a medicinal plant, but now it is considered more decorative and is seated in urban gardens, alleys and parks.
When does it bloom?
Most of us are accustomed to count cherry white snow-white flowers, rarely pink, but in fact they are colorless. White-looking flowers get their whiteness due to the reflection of the sun's rays from the voids and colorless cells that make up the walls of the petals.
As a rule, the timing of flowering bird cherry limited to a month, usually last two weeks. The periods and the beginning of flowering in plants in the same region change every year.
The plant blooms, as already mentioned, in May or June. But in some regions this stage may begin earlier or later than this period, since cool weather is necessary for the cherry tree to bloom. As a result, the flowering time in the Moscow region may differ significantly from the flowering time in the Urals. In warm regions, the bird cherry begins to bloom in April, and in the northern regions - in late spring or early summer.
The flowering of bird cherry coincides with the flowering of other similar shrubs. For comparison: the first flowers of lilac appear in mid-May - early June.
Since ancient times, it was believed that the month of cherry blossom is the time of sowing. Most often during this period wheat and potatoes were planted. There was a belief that if you sow during this period, then there will be a good harvest.
The benefits and harm of the smell of flowers
Basically, all the beneficial properties and therapeutic action combine the berries of bird cherry, but they also have flowers. Thus, a freshly picked bird cherry branch indoors can disperse all midges and mosquitoes from it.
Cherry flowers contain special biologically active substances - phytoncides. They kill and inhibit the growth and development of bacteria and various microscopic fungi. Breathing the scent of cherry flowers is not only pleasant, but also beneficial for immunity.
It has been noticed that because of this property of the bird cherry, flies, gadflies and some other pests of domestic crops are rarely found near the bushes. Phytoncides are contained not only in flowers, but also in the bark of a plant. Some particularly experienced gardeners even sprayed raspberries or other fruit bushes with a decoction of bird cherry bark to prevent pests.
It is important to know that the same phytoncides contained in the bone of a berry can be deadly for children and poisoning for an adult. This is the reason that you can not drink decoctions or infusions of crushed berries. It is necessary to get rid of the bones.
Bird-cherry flower extract is added to various creams and ointments, it helps speed up the healing process of wounds on the skin. A similar effect may simply have an extract from the flowers of the bird cherry. It will accelerate the healing of mechanical wounds on the skin.
In addition to all the above listed beneficial actions of the bark, leaves and fruits of bird cherry, bird cherry honey is especially valued.It consists of zinc, iron, various vitamins.
Dried flowers of bird cherry can be stored for a year, after they lose all their useful substances and smell.
Like any medicinal plant, bird cherry there are contraindications. One of the most obvious inconveniences that accompany each period of flowering is the exacerbation of allergies to the pronounced smell of flowers, and in rare cases, until fainting.
It is believed that the breathtaking smell of bird cherry creates an atmosphere of romance and lightness. However, it is not recommended to leave a fresh cut branch in your room for the night due to the general increase in the sensitivity of people to strong smells in recent years.
The practice of laying a fresh branch in wardrobes with clothes is quite popular. After that, all the clothes get the pleasant aroma of fresh cherry flowers. It should be noted that not only mosquitoes and flies are afraid of its smell, but also moths.
Folk omens
The first mention of bird cherry have the ancient Greeks. The ancient botanist Theophrast wrote about her.
But since this plant traditionally grows on the domestic territory for several centuries, then, of course, it is obvious that in Russia there appeared beliefs and signs associated with its flowering.
Few people, especially those who live in megacities, have noticed that cooling begins with the flowering of the bird cherry. This is due to the fact that during the cooling, even if not strong, many insect pests are hidden, which allows the bird cherry to bloom in full color. As a result, the cooler the flowering takes place. From this observation, another belief occurred - rapid flowering is a sign of a rainy summer.
There is another sign that if flowering takes a long time, it means that shrubs will attract many bees and other pollinating insects, which, in turn, will have a good effect on pollination of crops and you can expect a good harvest.
Due to the fact that cherry flowers like coolness, the sooner they bloom, the sooner the heat will come, which means there will be a hot summer.
It is believed that a good harvest of berries of bird cherry is a sign of the future good harvest of various cereal crops and fruit trees.
Almost all of these signs are considered inexplicable, but you can see that they all rely on attentive and long-term observations.
Other interesting facts
Cherry leaves are toxic, so you can not feed them livestock, but can be planted near the barns, which will help ward off various rodents. Bark of a bird cherry color fishing nets, they give them a dark red color.
Berries are used in a variety of traditional alcoholic infusions.
The trunks and branches of the bird cherry are sometimes used to make small furniture drawers, as they are easily polished.
Prunus - a storehouse of nutrients, which we undeservedly forget. Each of its parts - leaves, stem, bark, berries and flowers are a promising resource for assimilation.
About what medicinal properties has a bird cherry, see the following video.
