Fall Is Here, But For How Long?
Fall has finally arrived here in New York. The air is crisp and cool and the leaves are turning color-finally! According to our local weatherman, the forecast is for cool and seasonable weather here on out, but that’s of little comfort to the leaf peepers. Thanks to unseasonably warm weather and dry conditions, the trees in many areas simply haven’t turned color-in fact many trees will end up dropping their leaves while they are still green. Experts say we’ll still have a peak foliage time, but it will be shorter and a lot less impressive than usual. Global warming? Maybe.
Whatever it is, it’s got most plants totally confused. It’s November 1st and my Petunias are blooming profusely. My tomatoes still want to keep on producing, and even my roses don’t know when to quit and head into dormancy. This could spell trouble, as plants that rely on winter dormancy to protect them from harsh conditions until spring could be killed by a sudden cold snap. It also endangers birds, who are lured into delaying their winter migration by unseasonable warm temps. Sure, lots of people may be thrilled when it’s 70 degrees and sunny up north in November, but gardeners know that the change in season and temperature is necessary for a happy and healthy garden. Plants need that rest period and so does the soil they grow in. I for one welcome the cooler weather and am looking forward to the first snow of the season! The garden needs it’s winter nap.
gardening, gardens, weather, petunias, fall, autumn
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