I identified climate signals in some great basin shrub wood by comparing climate records from a bunch of podunk towns and growth rings present in the wood of the plants. So I can say exactly what monthly intervals were the most vital to their growth as a whole. It's necessary information when it comes to climate change studies where even small changes in something like the timing of rainfall can have an appreciable effect on entire plant populations.
I also used some satellite images to look at plant growth over the past few decades in my study area but that was only slightly successful, and as such, is dead to me.
Also, lasers, dinosaurs, and genetic mutants! (not really)