“What!?!”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
I am totally confused. Mother Nature has me in a tizzy. I just don’t know what to expect next. I have written before about how plants are blooming out of season. Some way too early even though we have had cooler than normal temperatures. Our big dark pink camellia that is usually blooming by now, has nothing but tightly closed buds, and today, as I was walking around the garden, I saw this.
That’s right, the first forsythia bloom. There are several popping out already. Forsythia doesn’t bloom around here until late January at the earliest. Its blooming is a signal for spring to be right around the corner. I sure hope this early showing of a few blooms is not a sign that we will not have the big burst of yellow in a few months. I would hate to just have a few blooms at a time over a long period.
Maybe these shrubs are just confused by the colder than normal weather we have been having and think that it should be blooming because winter must be just about over. Who can tell? If the plants are confused about whether they should be blooming or not, I am no better. I am so puzzled about what is going on, but I have decided to just go along with Mother Nature’s plans for this year and just enjoy what happens when it happens.
Always Growing 
Gail said,
December 17, 2008 at 8:50 pm
We had some bloom, too, earlier this fall…Pretty lovely…now I think I want to go get a few branches to force! I do think that the weather has been incredibly messed up! But we can only go with the flow…she’s in charge! Gail
Nancy Bond said,
December 17, 2008 at 10:05 pm
How very nice that you have such a wonderful splash of sunny color this time of year!
Ewa said,
December 17, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Oh, that’s interesting! whazzup!!??
Ewa
Chandramouli.S said,
December 17, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Well, I should congratulate you on it, enjoy the blooms. They seem to love you for your caring and seem to want to surprise you pleasantly.
Tyra in Vaxholm said,
December 18, 2008 at 1:32 am
WoW Jan, I don’t know if it is a good or a bad sign but it so pretty especially with ‘your’ snow. / Tyra
artistsgarden said,
December 18, 2008 at 2:40 am
It certainly is a strange year for things blooming “out of season” …
K
tina said,
December 18, 2008 at 6:51 am
I like Chandramouli’s response-they want to reward you with blooms this year. A nice treat.
fairegarden said,
December 18, 2008 at 7:02 am
Hi Jan, like the others, I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it is still pretty. Our weather is completely out of whack too, but don’t know how it is going to affect bloom times, etc. We shall see!
Frances
Randy said,
December 18, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if Sping IS just around the corner! I’m already ready for it. 🙂
Jan said,
December 21, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Gail, the only thing I can think that would cause these to bloom early is that the temperatures and number of daylight hours is the same as in early spring, so the plants think this is the time to bloom.
Nancy, it is nice, I just hope we have it in the spring, too. I love the forsythia in full bloom as a harbinger of warmer weather.
Ewa, it is interesting if not strange.
Chandramouli, it was a pleasant surprise. I know when I see the snow covered gardens of other bloggers I am grateful for any blooms I can get.
Jan said,
December 21, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Tyra, I am thinking it is a good sign – winter won’t last forever.
ArtistsGarden, you are right, there have been many plants blooming at a different, unusual time this year.
Tina, it is nice to think the plants are so comfortable here that they bloom because they are happy.
Frances, I, too, have been wondering what will bloom in the spring earlier than normal. I guess, we will just have to wait and see. Maybe with colder temperatures, everything will stop for a while and let the usual bloom time catch up.
Randy, I know you don’t like the cold weather and would like to see an early spring. Sometimes, I feel the same way because I have so many new plans for my garden.