[pbs] Blooming now/Weather changes
Jane McGary
janemcgary at earthlink.net
Sun Feb 1 23:50:09 EST 2009
Here in the Portland, Oregon, area we have had slightly lower than
average rainfall in January, despite a torrential rain on New Year's
day (2.3 inches in Portland, and 4.3 inches here at my place in the
Cascade foothills -- goodbye, driveway!). Temperatures have been
below average, and snow higher than average -- I had about 2 feet (60
cm) on the ground for two weeks in December, and another few inches
in January. All flowering is later than usual. The snowdrops are up,
but on very short stems, and only a very few crocuses and Narcissus
cantabricus, romieuxii, and bulbocodium species are in bloom in the
frame. Surprisingly, a number of the small colchicums that flower in
late winter are on schedule or even early. The first Hyacinthella is
open, too. Few Fritillaria species have emerged, but F. striata,
which is vulnerable to frost, made it through the bad weather (under
microfoam sheets) and has some buds up. There is little foliage
damage apparent in the frames, but in the open garden many arums
froze; however, I think they'll recover eventually. The first
primroses (P. elatior and P. vulgaris) are opening in sheltered
spots, and the Hamamelis are in full bloom. I'm a little nervous
about my seed pots, which are back outdoors after spending the worst
of the weather in the solarium; I found germination in 4 species
today and brought the more tender ones in, such as Tecophilaea
cyanocrocus. This despite frost every night -- something all the
alpine plants would probably experience at home, anyway.
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA
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