Over by the path skirting the river, the buds on the chestnut were swelling nicely.

"You can collect syrup as long as temperatures are cool and the buds don't swell," he said.

Also, if buds on woody plants have swelled, and there is a sudden drop in temperature, these buds may be killed.

The buds would be swelling in the monastery orchards.

Sap was rising; buds were swelling; things on every side were turning their cells to the sweet labour of growth.

Once the buds swell, and spring is well under way, the sap is no longer good enough for syrup-making.

On the shrubs, buds swelled and broke.

Four buds swelled, two near the head, two at the tail.

THE recent spell of warm weather encouraged many woody plants into a false spring, and buds swelled.

After two or three weeks, the buds will swell into perfect green hearts, summer leaves in miniature.