Geneva's rite of spring: you may think the first day of spring is March 21, but in Geneva you'd be wrong. Here it is marked by the appearance of the first bud on an 'official' chestnut tree.

Since 1818, spring in Geneva begins when the first bud appears on the official chestnut tree, marked with a plaque, on the Promenade de la Treille in the city's Old Town.

The occasion is known as l'eclosion or 'the budding'. The same chestnut tree--there have been two predecessors--has been on duty since 1929, and 2004 marks its 75th anniversary of service.

In charge of monitoring the tree, and declaring the start of spring, is the 'sautier', an official of the Geneva cantonal government, who works at the nearby Hotel de Ville, already a seat of government in the 15th century.

What Is a 'Sautier'?

In pleasantly accented French Austrian-born Maria Anna Hutter, who has occupied the position since 1999, explains that 'sautier' comes from the Latin 'saltarius' (also 'saltuarius' or 'salterius'), which means a kind of grounds watchman. Geneva's first 'sautier' was appointed in 1483, and in those days the Treille was not landscaped. It was just a natural bit of terrain with grapevines growing on it. 'Sautier' Lupi Tissot was asked to make a first landscaping attempt by planting trees. That was in 1558.

"The 'sautier' was a kind of concierge," says Hutter, "making sure that building and grounds were maintained and operational." A sculpted wood lion stool dating from the 15th century, no longer used but on proud display In the Hotel de Ville's magnificent frescoed State Council room, was where the sautier sat outside the door--like a lion's "the 'sautier's' eyes are all-seeing," says Hutter.

Hutter is the 73rd person and second woman to hold this post. Except for a brief discontinuation during Napoleon's occupation of Geneva, the post has survived, although nowadays the 'sautier' is the secretary/general of Geneva's Grand Council, organising the plenary sessions and commission meetings, ensuring that correct procedural requirements are fulfilled in sessions, and publishing records of them such as the 'Memorial'.

Early Beginnings

Monitoring the first budding and pronouncing the start of spring is relatively new to the job description--a mere 172 years old. In fact, it dates from 1831 when Henri Fromont took over from the Initiator of the practice, 'sautier' Theodore-Marc Paul.

The first person to record the budding of a chestnut tree on the Treille was not a 'sautier', but a patrician resident of nearby me des Granges, Marc-Louis Rigaud-Martin. Although hypotheses differ as to why he began the practice, "it was probably purely a personal interest, a kind of scientific curiosity he had," says Hutter, "coming out of an 18th century that had seen a 'back to nature' phase with Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the emergence of great Genevese natural scientists like de Candolle and de Saussure."

Another possible source for Rigand-Martin's interest was a famous chesnut tree in the: Tuileries gardens in Paris, monitored through the 19th century until its demise in 1911, and whence the term 'marronier', which has similar albeit not identical connotations in French as it does In English: oft-repeated, well-worn--yes, that old chestnut.

Rigaud-Martin began his notations in 1808 and kept them up, on his chosen Treille tree, until 1831. Theodore-Marc Paul, the first 'sautier' appointed after the Napoleonic occupation, began his observations--presumably Inspired by Rigaud-Martin--on another tree on the Treille in 1818. And so began the official recording of the 'eclosion'. Each date since 1818 has been inscribed in ink on a parchment roll mounted in a case that stands in the State Council chamber.

Not Just 'Bud-Spotting'

Aside from inscribing the date on the parchment roll, what does the tree-monitoring part of her job mean in practical terms for Ms Hutter?

"My first year 1 was stressed about it," she confesses. "My predecessor missed spotting the bud one year. That had never happened before. A journalist noticed and the news created quite a stir. I didn't want a repeat situation! So I not only checked the tree frequency myself, I asked colleagues in the office to keep their eyes open as well, and even called the patios department and asked if their people could let me know if things showed signs of moving."

Now, however, she and her team have fallen into a relaxed, natural rhythm of observation--strolling over periodically during the key months, with binoculars, to examine the tree.

The first buds to appear are 'always on the eastern side, says Hutter, on the branches overhanging the ramparts facing the Bastions park that was Geneva's first botanical garden.

Hutter did have a close shave with missed bud spotting in 2003, however, or December 2002 to be precise. "We were all off on leave," she recalls, "when I got a call from a colleague who reported that it was exceptionally sunny in Genera tot the time of year. I hurried back, and sure enough there was the first bud. I declared December 29, 2002 to be the first day of spring 2003." That was the all-time record. The previous record had been January 3, 1991.

Once the first bud has been spotted, Hutter issues a press release; this is headline stuff for the local media. She then informs the Swiss Meteorological Institute in Zurich, which finds the information of statistical use. "It is a fact that if you look at the records, the dates have been getting progressively earlier. In the 19th century, the first leaves almost always appeared in April." Fast forward to the 20th century when between 1970 and 1989, they mostly appeared in February and March. However, from 1990 to the present day, that's become mostly January and February, with, of course, the record-breaking December, 2002.

"That old tree is smart," says Hutter, pointing out that the 2002 announcement was a harbinger of the high temperatures to hit Genera the following July and August with a heat wave so severe that it Dad one local paper trumpeting "10 More Summers Like This and Glaciers Dead."

A Time to Celebrate

Is anything else done to mark the 'eclosion'? Aside flora feeding the news onto the cantonal website--under 'Grand Conseil' at www.geneve.ch detailed information about the official chestnut tree is kept rigorously updated. Hutter attends the festivities marking the event, held on the Treille the third Saturday in March and is known as the 'Fete de la Premiere Feuille' or the Celebration of the First Leaf.

Hutter is quick to agree that this indeed sounds Japanese, evoking the cherry blossom tradition. It is, in fact, a children's fest, but open to one and all. And it falls upon her to give the keynote address and hand out candy to the kids.

But what about the tree. Aesculus Hippocastanum L.? Its trunk is so bent over it has to be propped up with a pole--is retirement in sight, of are its job prospects optimistic for the foreseeable future?

"The official chestnut tree is in good health and looks as if it's got many more useful years ahead," says Hutter. "I certainly hope so; I've grown to love it. Watching for that burgeoning tender green leaf has made me very sensitive to seasonal beauty. I find monitoring the tree grounds me."

She adds, "The tree is also a wonderful way to relate to people. When I go to visit it, I get into conversations with those sitting on the benches nearby, or the children playing. As a 'haut fonctionnaire', you can sometimes seem a bit remote. But because of the official chesnut tree, people address me; I am amazed at how many have an anecdote or observation they want to share."

Any indications when spring will arrive in this anniversary year? "It's supposed to be a long, cold winter," says Hutter. "Only time--and the tree--will tell."