Changing climate and phenology
My colleague Sue Watts made a thoughtful post on our What's Happening at the Gardening blog this weekend.
She saw native Hepatica and Viola flowers (quite early, but not unexpected). But what was surprising was that Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia: a rare native) was also starting to flower, well over a month before we normally see it.
Undoubtedly it's connected to the warm soil temperatures that I noted before, combined with warmer than normal air temperatures, too. We live in a changing world.
She saw native Hepatica and Viola flowers (quite early, but not unexpected). But what was surprising was that Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia: a rare native) was also starting to flower, well over a month before we normally see it.
Undoubtedly it's connected to the warm soil temperatures that I noted before, combined with warmer than normal air temperatures, too. We live in a changing world.
We have no phenological signs here yet, but the winter has been amazingly mild. The snow moon is shining down on patchy snow and 34 degree temperatures this morning. Unheard of.
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