I am not a gardener , but many of the blogs I follow have a lot about plants in the content. I admire the experts who can name all the plants by their various names.
I appreciate plants and enjoy them and look after them.
Spring comes slowly to the northern hemisphere. For months I've heard about plants in various stages of development. People look for buds and blooms. I'm impressed by they show us.
Here in Alberta, Canada, plants are slowly coming to life. There is green grass in some places but not very much. I do have bluebells which have buds. Peonies and bleeding heart have shoots coming up. There is some green in the iris patch. The wild poplars are flowering.
So I see some people who are very concerned when the temperature drops. Two nights from now we get a temperature of minus 7 C. Are my plants going to be harmed? No. They will certainly pause development.
So I like the way plant scientists have mapped out zones for the most suitable plants to grow. If I tried to grow a peony from Florida, it probably wouldn't work unless I planted it in the house.
It always intrigues me how they have mapped zones and developed plants to thrive in these zones.
Red, thanks for the thoughtful reflection on the changing season and the marvel of plant life slowly waking up. Even without being a gardener yourself, your attention to the subtle signs of spring shows a deep appreciation for nature’s rhythms. John
ReplyDeleteBeing raised on a farm the natural world was just outside the door. We were also free range kids so had lots to experience. I also did quite a bit of back packing in the Rockies . I even climbed a mountain in the south west corner of Montana.
DeleteI always thought certain plants can tolerate the cold temps.
ReplyDeleteWe wait to plant till we know the last frost is over.
Take care, have a wonderful day!
There's also a difference with annuals, biennials and perennials.
DeleteEastern Ontario is a different zone than our former abode in Southwestern Ontario.
ReplyDeleteThere are certainly variations.
DeleteKnowing your zone is a great way to maximize plant growth in your area. Bravo Science.
ReplyDeleteSome plants will sit there and survive but not do much else.
DeleteChoosing the right conditions for plants is really important, and that includes the soil. You know your plants, so they will survive.
ReplyDeleteShade , partial shade and full sun are some other variables.
DeleteI have empty planters on my porch and did nothing with them last year. am still trying to decide if I want to plant any this year.
ReplyDeletethere comes a time when gardening is over.
DeleteI've only lived as far north as central Minnesota. Spring seemed to take forever to arrive. I can't imagine living as far north as you do unless I really loved winter... which I don't.
ReplyDeleteWe are in a better climate than Minnesota. Minnesota is very much in the center. We are close to the Rockies and get chinooks.
DeleteYou certainly seem to have a short growing season in Red Deer before the eternal winter returns.
ReplyDeleteWe get extremely long summer days so that's why we can grow many different things.
DeleteI saw an interesting chart yesterday showing that those mapped zones are being altered because of climate change. I don't know much about plants either, Red, but someday Canada could be warm enough for a peony from Florida. That would be a problem, tho...
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about change in these zones.
DeleteSounds like your Spring is more advanced than ours...and you are North and West of me!
ReplyDeleteYou are in a more severe climate zone. We are also in a chinook zone. We get more sunlight when we're further north.
DeleteOur spring is marginally ahead of yours - your description fits what we saw last week. This week, with warmer temperatures, things are greening up at a terrific pace. I can't wait for the tree leaves to come out. You are a keen observer of nature, Red!
ReplyDeleteYou are on the coast so the sea influences what you get. We are in a chinook zone.
DeletePlant plants where THEY are happy. That's a lesson learned from experience.
ReplyDeleteLight is one thing plants are fussy about.
DeleteMost plants are amazingly hardy.
ReplyDeleteEach species of plant has it's own strong characteristics.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this. Warm greetings from Montreal.
ReplyDeleteYes, Montreal is a bit warmer than we are!
DeleteBut sometimes they are wrong!
ReplyDeleteYeesh -- minus 7 is cold for this time of year, at least to me. I'm glad your plants are coming up and spring is on the way.
ReplyDeleteMost plants ca adapt to their locations.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed that the early spring plants can survive frost, low temperatures, or even snow and come up smiling as soon as it warms up.
ReplyDelete