LEMONBURST
A hypothetical collaboration with budburst

Lemonburst is a prototype for a device that allows citizen scientists to work together with research scientists, educators, and horticulturists to answer specific, timely, and critical ecological research questions by making careful observations of the timing of lemon plant life cycle events, also called phenophases. For lemon trees this includes leafing, flowering, and fruiting phases as well as leaf color and senescence. Lemonburst is a unique device that uses lemons to power a temperature sensor that monitors the climate for optimal growing conditions. To get accurate data, the temperature needs to be observed a few times per week. It does not require observation daily because the information can be stored within the device. With Lemonburst, citizen science is made easier.