Phenophase Questions

Hello Nature's Notebook observers! 

You may have heard that in anticipation of the launch of the new NN app, the USA-NPN team has been working to collect example phenophase photos for each species on the monitoring list. As of 2026, we have collected photos for the most important phenophases on a majority of plant species (and many animals as well!). These photos will be accessible in the app while observing and contribute to consistent and informed data. 

While observing Monarda citriodora this year, a couple of questions have come up.  After months of observations through a long hot summer, the plant is now completely brown including the spent flower bases and most of the stems are still upright.  Since the nutlets are completely enclosed in the spent flower bases it is impossible to see them without tearing apart the flower bases or turning them upside down and shaking them.  So, how would the observer know if the fruits/nutlets are still present and how many there are?

A few sites in NM are observing cane cholla, Cylindropuntia imbricata.  It is hard to determine when fruits are ripe.  The guidance says fruits are yellow, but the fruits are seldom a solid yellow color and there isn't much information online about what fruits look like when they are ripe.  There's even conflicting information about whether fruits ripen within one year or take longer.  Eventually, sometimes after two years, a mostly yellow fruit will just turn tan colored and shriveled before falling off.

Hi everyone,

This has been a tricky summer in Boston area with the drought causing a lot of fruits to abort off the trees by the 1000's in some of our oaks. 

Hello everyone!

My name is Oskar Anderson and I'm the new Plant Specialist at the USA-NPN. Part of my work here is to review our observing protocols and plant phenophase definitions and make them more clear through additional resources and revisions. This forum thread is a place to bring any concerns, challenges, or questions that have come up in your observations. I’d love to hear about them!

For example:
Are there phenophase definitions that aren’t clear or don’t seem to match what you’re seeing in the field? 

In reviewing the Smugmug photo gallery, I noted that the library gallery for Lupinus texenis has "0" images on file.

Can anyone tell me if someone has been assigned to gather these images or is someone needed to gather photos using the Phenophase Photo Guide guidelines?  

I suspect this plant was added to the Nature's Notebook species list after last year's early spring flower and seeding phase of the Texas Bluebonnet.  

If someone is already assigned to gather the phenophase photos, I would like to connect with the person or persons gathering the photos.

I have had a request to observe and record Rose sawfly, however, it doesn't look like it is available in Nature's Notebook. Is there a way to request to have it be added?
I realize that Rose sawfly can be a number of different insects. Once spring arrives in Southeast Michigan, I will capture one and have it identified so I can request the species I need to observe and record.

I have a mature little leaf linden, Tilia cordata. I’m not entirely sure what phenophase is happening. It looks like there are fruit and new buds.
It’s a little hard to see in the pictures.
The fruit is starting to drop, but I’m not sure if it’s ripe.
How should this be reported?

Hi! Could anyone let me know if these would be considered flowers or open flowers? Species is rush-desert milkweed. Thanks

Would you report ripe fruit if the capsules have burst and white fluff is visible, or only if the seeds are actually beginning to disperse/float away?