TIS THE SEASON

November 27, 2015

Steel Magnolia character, Truvy, said it best, "Oh, Sammy's so confused he don't know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt."

When Georgia weather fluctuates, as it always does, plants often misread the signals and don't know whether it's Spring or Fall. Last week cherry trees were sporting small pink buds. At first, I thought it might be Autumnalis, which actually blooms in the Fall. Then I spied my favorite tree down the street, which is a Spring bloomer, budding out of season.

Warm temperatures, followed by a cold snap and a rewarming trend give the illusion of Spring. Flowers that open in the Fall will be absent in the Spring. This results in fewer Spring blooms, but does not harm the plant.

The reverse is true in the Spring. Especially hard hit can be early blooming Okami Cherry and Star Magnolia. Unseasonably warm days will coax them out of dormancy to later blast them with frigid temperatures. Seems like a cruel joke, but it's the price we pay living on the edge in Georgia. Gardeners know this well.

To some degree, we can protect Spring buds on smaller trees and shrubs by covering them with sheets or light weight blankets. I know an innovative gardener who ran white outdoor Christmas lights through her Pindo Palm tree to help it survive cold temperatures. The heat of the lights provided extra protection--it seemed to thrive in her garden. 

I also once had a Pindo Palm that I pampered through multiple episodes of snow fall. I lovingly shook off the snow from each frond and it seemed to work. The single instance I forgot resulted in the death of my Pindo. The real lesson learned might be to "seize the day."

No matter the season, enjoy the bloom.

[Carolyn Fjeran, LowTide explorer/reflective writer; horticulturist & gardener; former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners and The Newnan Times Herald]