The first day of spring, when daylight hours begin to exceed nighttime hours, seems especially significant this year 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 , 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.