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What is happening to the seasons??

PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
in Plants
Both my Pieris Katsura and Sarcocca confusa are starting to produce flowers completely out of season. What on earth? I am really worried what's going to happen to them. Anyone else noticed out-of-season things?
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  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Could be the cooler temperatures following on from the very hot summer temperatures in summer. Your plants may be thinking it's winter time...I have seen quite a few of the ornamental pear trees on the estate where I live flower again around this time last year. So far not seen them flower yet.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    I had Hellebores flowering in June and July. Not sure what they'll do this winter.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    @philippasmith2 I am sure you are right - six months out of synch is certainly extreme!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @philippasmith2 is right. Changes have been happening for decades. It's simply that people hadn't noticed until it became a 'hot topic' either. 
    I heard this morning that the glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at a greater rate, based on surveys from the first decade of the 21st century.
    I know the area of snow that 'never melts' on Nevis, melted last year. A chap has been monitoring it for donkey's years. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Yes, indeed. When redesigning my south-facing garden, I've tried to future-proof it a bit by planting quite a few Mediterranean plants that can cope with baking heat and drought. It would be interesting to know if things like Hellebores, Sacrococca etc are triggered to flower by heat or cold - I must admit I'd assumed the latter, so I'm as confused as they are.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    The old growth on my sarcococca has been producing flower buds for some weeks now, and the new growth is now doing the same.  I have also had the odd blossom appearing on apple, pear and plum trees over the same period too.  Many plants do require a cold dormant period as you mention, and we may get severely reduced crops of certain things such as strawberries which fall into that category, if we don't have cold enough winters.  Following the same reasoning, we may lose wild species which shed seeds that require a minimum period of cold stratification.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    One of my rhodies is flowering again, the flowers are next to the ripe berries on the brambles I left for the birds  :)
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    @BobTheGardener thanks, v. interesting. I wonder whether the lack of proper cold is also of concern in terms of killing off pests and diseases.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    Next door's magnolia is starting to bloom while still in full leaf. I wonder what will happen next Spring?
    Southampton 
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Yes, @Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants that's my worry too - if they have shot their bolt 6 months early, what will happen? Still, there's nothing we can do except wait and see!
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