Trees in hibernation

We're wrapping up warm for the icy temperatures. A thick winter jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves are a must, and lined winter boots are a must to keep you warm.

But what about the trees? Do they also freeze when it suddenly gets so cold? Perhaps we humans aren't a good comparison when it comes to survival strategies in icy temperatures. Let's take a closer look at the brown bear. During the warmer months, it builds up a thick layer of blubber to get it through the winter, then seeks out a winter shelter and hibernates there.

It's very similar with trees. They, too, build up reserves, not in the form of fat, but in the form of sugar, which they created and stored during the summer through photosynthesis. When enough sugar and nutrients have been stored for the winter, the trees prepare for hibernation. They shed their leaves and reduce the humidity in the tree; incidentally, they begin reducing humidity in the summer. And in winter, when it's as icy as it is now, the trees hibernate and feed on the sugar they collected during the warm summer months.