Spring is officially here and the yearly mystery returns. This time, we have answers.

Credit - NYS DEC
Credit - NYS DEC
loading...

No, you aren't the only person to notice this. It always seems to be bare around the bottom of a tree and it really never made sense why. At first I thought it was just how the snow fell, but apparently there's an actual reason for it.

It has to do with the tree bark. Because the bark on a tree is darker than everything else around it, that being the snow, it absorbs the most heat and sunlight. When it does this, the bark then radiates the heat back outward, melting the snow around the tree.

Credit - NYS DEC
Credit - NYS DEC
loading...

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says the snow melting around the trees is also what leads to ephemeral flowers to grow.

Ephemerals are small perennials that bloom for only a brief period of time and are one of the first signs of spring in the forest.

Now that Spring has officially sprung in Central New York, you can keep an eye out for these flowers popping up all over. Even better, you can now tell people why the snow melts around trees. What better way to use this random information then to share it with everyone.

Simple Winter Driving Tips Some Boneheads Forget Every Year

It happens every time it snows. People seem to forget how to drive in winter weather, even in Central and Upstate New York. Here are a few simple tips to make it safer for you and everyone else on the road.

New York DEC Forest Rangers Provide Winter Safety Sessions

Anything can happen on the trails or ice during the winter. Luckily, the State DEC Forest Rangers have provided training sessions on how to deal with these intense situations.

8 Dumb Mistakes That Landed Idiot Hunters in Heap of Trouble

If you're going to break the law while hunting, you may want to avoid these 8 dumb mistakes that landed several hunters in a heap of trouble.

Photographer Captures Stunning Northern Lights Show in Adirondacks

Shane Muckey captured stunning pictures of the Northern Lights in the Adirondacks.

More From 96.9 WOUR