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Post by stevebooth on Jan 28, 2016 13:46:05 GMT
Afternoon all
During a rather dreary drive this morning, whilst in the inevitable traffic jams around the area I noticed eight hawthorn shrub/trees in differing locations, breaking into leaf. In the past I have used this as a precursor to spring, but in all my years (and there have been a few) I have never noted them leafing in numbers in January. That coupled with bluebells growing faster than the snow drops in my garden and seeing daffodils in flower on a roadside verge in Reading last week, make me wonder whether others used a plant to gauge the spring season, that has declared its credentials early.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by fredg on Jan 29, 2016 18:03:37 GMT
All I can say is that our tete a tete are in bud very early this year
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Post by fredg on Feb 2, 2016 18:15:19 GMT
Passed a Japanese cherry in bloom this morning.
I have a Summer snowflake that opened on the last day of January and the Schizostylis has been flowering all winter.
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Post by stevebooth on Feb 3, 2016 15:26:33 GMT
Crocus in flower on the traffic islands around Birmingham, along with daffodils, but Ive not seen snowdrops yet
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Post by fredg on Feb 3, 2016 18:48:47 GMT
I have plenty Snowdrops up in tubs, the garden ones are a bit behind. The Aconites (Eranthis) have been out in the garden for a month.
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Post by stevebooth on Feb 5, 2016 14:05:03 GMT
Saw a wasp in Slough yesterday and indeed a glorious bank of snowdrops in full flower in Coleshill, it must just be my garden for some reason that they are slow.
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Post by corky on Feb 7, 2016 12:27:33 GMT
This maybe off topic as my cephs are on a windowsill, but one is starting to flower and from looking through old pics its about 3 months ahead of previous years its a cold single glazed window so maybe it has been that much warmer there too ( edit) just been for a long walk with the dog and with this thread in mind spotted snow drops in bloom and looking around the garden there are daffs and crocus too, also flowers starting to show on my darlingtonia.I hope its a good omen
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Post by stevebooth on Feb 8, 2016 13:38:28 GMT
I have taken what protection there was off the bogs outside at the weekend on the dual premise that it is and has been unseasonably warm and the day length is getting towards what some consider the magic day length, of 11 hours, which, so they say say, breaks Sarracenia dormancy and promotes spring growth. However some Sarracenia have flower buds already on their way up, on my outside plants, admittedly only a few so far, but I don't normally see that happening till March/April. I fear the worst.
Cheers Steve
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Post by corky on Feb 8, 2016 17:04:34 GMT
Hi Steve, by the worst do you mean not enough dormancy or freezing weather returning and doing damage, am not very experienced at this cheers
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Post by fredg on Feb 8, 2016 17:15:39 GMT
Oh I have a Dionaea ready to burst into flower. That's at least 2 months early, probably more.
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Post by stevebooth on Feb 9, 2016 13:36:32 GMT
Hi Corky Its not so much the shorter time in dormancy, more as you suggest that the plants will advance, then there will be a cold snap and the flowers will perish., which would be a shame as I rather like a nice display. Cheers Steve
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Post by corky on Feb 9, 2016 18:20:37 GMT
Thanks for your reply, and yeah sarracenia flowers really are great, and there was me punching the sky thinking of a longer growing season as it always seems too short without a proper greenhouse
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Post by fredg on Feb 9, 2016 20:41:52 GMT
I note that the forecast for here is freezing at night until next Tuesday. Minimum is -2C so nothing really serious
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Post by corky on Feb 10, 2016 10:31:53 GMT
What kind of temperature would be a worry in your opinions, also wind chill for outside plants can be a whole lot colder than ambient temperature and never seems to be taken into account in forecasts
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Post by fredg on Feb 10, 2016 12:28:40 GMT
I'll get concerned if it goes below -10C. But even then it'll knock the plants back this year but I'd expect a full recovery for next. I'm not that convinced about wind chill, Yes it affects we hot blooded types as there's some heat to take away. If you're already at the wind temperatur then there's nothing to lose. I still think multiple freeze - thaw cycles are worse than a medium term freeze
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