Peculiar Bloom Season
James Waddick (Tue, 14 Feb 2006 08:02:09 PST)

Dear All;
Normally I can count on few bulbs to bloom before the end of
January, but with the warmest Jan on record, or at least for the
last 60 years, bulbs are putting up more growth than usual.

Before February (and Ponxatawney Phil) showed up, I had
Narcissus 'Rynfeld's Early Sensation', Crocus sieberi ('Firefly',
'Hubert Edelstein' and 'Bowles White'), Crocus ancyrensis, Cyclamen
coum, Eranthis cilicica in bloom as well as non-bulbous -Adonis
amurensis, Helleborus xhybridus all showing at least a few early
blooms.

Up and looking excellent Iris (Juno) magnifica and aucheri
and Narcissus "Campernelle' with foliage looking totally undamaged
(unusual here).

I won't detail the exceptionally early swelling buds on
various other Daffodils, Peonies, shrubs etc. Winter is barely 1/2
here (or half gone depending on your level of pessimism) and too many
plants are blooming. This is almost always a portend of severe plant
damage. Today's forecast is mid-to upper 60s (F) and then plunge to
single digits (F) by the weekend. If this happens we will have bud,
leaf and flower kill in many plants. In recent past repeats, we have
had daffodils killed to the ground with flower stems up 6 inches. The
foliage and flower stems were killed totally. The bulbs survived,
skipped a year and are look fine, now.

Oh the joys of living on the edge of the prairie were
mid-winter winds can blow from the south OR the north and bring both
extremes within hours.

Just venting. Best Jim W.

--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +