4 The needle stretches up to twice the size of the bud, the needles are still tight to the shoot if bud scales are still there or they are splayed out variable_of The needle bundle starts to loosen, shoot are growing 5 acronym scale_of Dormant winter bud 1 entity attribute 2 Bud enlarge and starting to flush, first green is visible at the tip 3 Bud scales start to burst, first needles visible method_of Budflush conifers apical bud scoring scale