The Warming

There is definitely something going on with the weather, the atmosphere, whatever you want to call it...

but global warming is here, whatever it's cause (our lifestyle, perhaps?).

In 20+ years that I've lived in DC, my hydrangeas have never bloomed before some time in July. 

My Annabelles, yes, but the never the macrophyllas, until this year.

It makes me sad, annoyed, worried, wondering just what's going to happen next.  I surely never thought I'd see this after a winter that was one of our coldest on record. 

That made no difference, however, in the warming trend.  Even the farmers at my local Sunday green market have told their crops this year (strawberries, peas, and everything else) are coming in earlier than they ever have before.

Is this happening all over the country?

Comments

[chidy]

global climate change is more complicated than a simple, regular warming trend. americans need to try harder to understand the science of it. it's very sad that people still "question" what is established scientific fact. GCC is real. please, try to accept that. religion and politics and media won't change that fact, not matter how hard people want to believe they will.

GCC means that not only will most summers get progressively warmer, drier, and intense; it also means that winters may be more violent, wet, and colder. GCC is changing ancient and established weather patterns we've all taken for granted, and no one is exactly sure what will be the result, or even if "result" is the right word to use. we may tip the balance of the earth's climate and cause some extreme change everywhere. we may see a progressive warming/cooling trend that just gets more extreme every year. parts of the sea are dying and huge amounts of methane have been released into the biosphere. this is going to cause even more extreme climate shifts.

yes, it is happening everywhere. anecdotes from north america won't change that fact. in every civilized nation on the planet people accept this and are doing something about it. only in the US and other backward countries do people still "debate" what is happening to our environment. and yes, it is the fault of humans that this is happening, and our unwillingness to adopt sensible standards in energy and resource consumption.

[Barbara Katz]

Here in the MidAtlantic, my personal opinion is that the blanket of snow, over such a long period of time, actually insulated many plants and shrubs from the cold, and then provided slow, steady moisture as it melted. Seems all perennials and shrubs benefitted from this. My prediction is that next spring will be competely different - that's based on keeping weather records here, for the last 25 years. I just can't attribute it to a steady warming trend.

[Craig @ Ellis Hollow]

Most of the Northeast is about two weeks ahead of average in Growing Degree Day accumulation:

http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/grass/degreedays/dd_complong.html

Berry picking season is about two weeks ahead of schedule, too.

[Meredehuit]

From the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah:

We had a snow storm on May 24th with 4-5 inches of snow and freezing temps. We are at least three weeks behind in our Spring. Blooms are slow and it is unseasonably cold. No global warming here! You may enjoy my Spring Snow post: http://www.thisgrandmothersgarden.com/2010/05/no-no-no-unbelievable.html

[Lydia Plunk]

From Sunny Southern California.

My bloomtimes appear to be more related to horticultural practices- when prunning and fertilizing takes place- with introduction of sun or shade to the area- than the weather.