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The first day of spring, when daylight hours begin to exceed nighttime hours, seems especially significant this year听鈥� record warm temperatures in the Northwest are marking the change of seasons. But our blooms may be a couple weeks behind schedule after February鈥檚 snow and cold weather.
Ray Larson, curator at听, explains that earlier cold temperatures may have delayed flowering plants, with bulbs and perennials being weeks behind their normal blooming time. But he says while warmth is a big factor in how plants grow, springtime鈥檚 increasing daylight plays an even bigger role.
After a few mild winters, he says this year鈥檚 cold snap may have tested the hardiness of some plants 鈥� but not to give up on them coming back yet. Don鈥檛 assume they are dead; give them until May or June before removing weather-beaten plants.
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Contact Kiyomi Taguchi, UW News video producer: ktaguchi@uw.edu or 206-685-2716.