My Climate Change Garden

The long winter and a very late start to spring has thrown many flowering timelines way off course.

George Anderson from Gardening Scotland says ” Plants that depend on soil warmth are now appearing at the same time as those that flower according to day length. The result is producing some of the strangest flowering combinations with daffodils mixing with full blown magnolias and apple blossom.

Last year was a bad one for British apple growers as the wet weather adversely affected pollination and crops.

But this year’s cold weather may prove a blessing in disguise, according to Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples and Pears, a trade association of English growers.He said the prolonged cold snap had helped “put the trees to sleep”.The cold weather may result in a substantial increase in this year’s apple crops This process, during which the trees effectively hibernate, is essential for them to build up energy over the winter months, which in turn helps ensure a good crop later in the year.

The beginning of May, when the trees begin to blossom is a critical period. If, as predicted, the weather improves towards the end of April, the blossom should escape frost damage, producing a greater yield than last year’s crops.

We also need more bees to flit from flower to flower and tree to tree to transfer pollen between flowers to ensure pollination. Because, of course, without bees there would be no pollination, and no pollination means bare trees with no fruit. Plant as many bee friendly flowers as you can this spring/summer.

http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/wildlife/plants-for-bees/1107.html

Enjoy the stunning if strange spring blossom over the next few weeks – it is spectacular and I will be busy taking lots of photographs – hopefully in  glorious sunshine with blue skies to match!