Signs of spring: dandelions are blossoming.

Investigation Protocol

1. Find places where dandelions grow; the jagged shape of their leaves makes them easy to recognize. Maybe you can remember where dandelions blossomed in large amounts last year.
2. Every day on your way to school and back, or while taking a walk, pass by selected locations and watch carefully for the appearance of the first flowers. It is important that your route is exactly the same every day. The time of day is also important for observations because the dandelion's flowers close at night. This means that in the early morning they can still be closed or in the evening they may be already closed. Dandelions also close before the rain.
3. Take a picture of dandelion flowers as soon as you see them. Take note of the air temperature on that day (based on meteorological data).
4. Fill in the Report Form answering all the questions for each observed phenological phase:
   
   • The beginning of the blossoming (first flowers have appeared, the majority are still in buds);
   • Mass blossoming (the majority of flowers have opened);
   • Mass ripening and seeds flying.
5. During your observations of dandelion blossoming discuss it with other participants of the project, read the project blog, and comment on other investigator ideas.

Safety tips

To avoid harming the environment or yourself when conducting our projects, please observe some simple rules:

• while photographing plants do not tear off their flowers or leaves;
• choose plants growing near public paths and not on others’ private property.