Re: Re: CULT: Reticulata as TB Bloom Season Predictor

My experience is that the timing of the early blooming plants has little to
do with the timing of later plants, but I live in a climate that varies a
great deal just by nature of the dryness.  The normal swing from day to
night is around 30 or 35 degrees F in the winter, so a little swing in the
weather sometimes makes a big difference to plants.  Also, so much can
change in the weather so quickly that things can turn around totally.  This
year (central NM) I had Iris reticulata and some of the smaller species
Crocus flowering in early January, Elm trees, Cypress, etc. were
pollinating, fruit trees and Forsythia was coming out, and I could see
starts of what looked like the first flower stalks on some if the IB Iris.
But, then it got colder in February and every just stopped; nothing has
progressed much at all since.  The first Crocus are long done, but the
larger ones are just now in full flower.  The Iris reticulas are still in
flower (most of the plants actually waited till last week).  The Forsythia
and Quince are finally looking good, instead of just a few stray flowers
open.  I have yet to see a fruit tree in full flower (saw one Apricot that
was maybe 1/4 open), even though I saw some flowers on Apricots, Peaches
and Plums way back in January.  However, they look like they might really
pop this week, if the sun comes out.  Looks like my wish may have come true
with the Elms.  We had some really cold nights in early February and it
looks like (fingers crossed) most of the seed crop failed because they
flowered a month early.  There are a few stray branches here and there that
are green with seeds, but not many.  Willows showed some green in January
too, and they still look the same; many years they are full early leaf now.
Oh, and Eleanor Roosevelt has some buds barely showing now (but none of the
dwarf bearded do yet - go figure).

So, it looked in January like we were going to have a really early spring
and it's turning into a late one (so far).  Of course if it warms up next
week, it could all turn around again.

A few years back I had all sorts of Iris (reticulata to Spuria), Daffodils,
Tulips, Crocus, Hyacinths, some Daylilies, and even Sunflowers all
flowering together in early April (very cold to instant summer that year).
It was quite a display, but it didn't last long.  Another year I had
Reticulatas, Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus, and various other bulbs in flower
on New Years Day, but the Tall Bearded Iris were mostly not in flower until
mid May (two to four weeks late).

It keeps life interesting!


Dave

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