Early Bloom Season Noted Across Much of Southern U.S.

Posted: February 15, 2023 2:25 pm

Did Punxsutawney Phil get it wrong again? Just a few weeks after the world’s most famous groundhog emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania to predict six more weeks of winter, it would appear as if spring has already arrived in some parts of the country. Even if the current weather does not always make it feel like spring is on the way, the season is already in full bloom in some areas of the U.S.

The appearance of these flowers and buds is more surprising when you consider that most of these blooms are not scheduled to start popping for another month. Here is the latest on the spring bloom season and the potential impacts of this early arrival.

Who is Experiencing the Early Bloom Season?

The southeastern corner of the U.S. is already finding trees with buds, nearly three weeks ahead of schedule. In fact, according to the National Phenology Network, some portions of the South and the Southeast are experiencing what experts are calling the earliest spring growing season in about 40 years.

This network tracks the arrival of the season by mapping out where it believes spring is already showing signs of life. The primary data points come from the bloom of two types of plants that tend to bloom first as the temperatures start to warm. These plants are also prevalent in most areas of the country, providing a common data point.

While the South and Southeast are in the midst of an early bloom phase, much of the Desert Southwest is lagging behind. For instance, southern Arizona is seeing the latest beginning to the bloom phase in four decades.

Reasons Behind the Early Spring Bloom Season

Climatologists are pointing to the unseasonably warm start to the year as the primary influence behind the early bloom season. A number of cities in the South have recorded the warmest temperatures over this time period in five years, including Houston, Nashville, and Atlanta.

Although the buds have not yet started to appear across most of the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, the tracking network is predicting that this phase is right around the corner. Cities such as New York City and Philadelphia are seeing their warmest start to the year in history, meaning that you can expect these buds to begin to appear in the next few weeks.

Most plants are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of temperature, moisture, and humidity levels. As a result, their growth is predicated by these environmental factors. If Mother Nature is telling them that it is time to start growing, they will respond in such a manner.

Climate Change Bringing Earlier Bloom Seasons

The widespread early blooming in 2023 is not isolated. Spring is showing signs of life earlier and earlier with climate change getting the blame. While these flowering plants may be beautiful to look at, experts caution that the early bloom season can wreak havoc on the national cycle of life.

For example, plants that bloom too early in the season can disrupt the natural cycle of the pollinators who need these blooms. In some cases of an early arrival of spring, the blooms could disappear prior to the arrival of the pollinators.

The greatest disruptions in the ecological cycle happen when the plants and animals that coexist are not in sync. For instance, although plants may bloom early in response to a rise in the mercury, the message is not always sent to the animals to start responding differently. This discrepancy can create chaos in the natural world.

This matters to humans because of the food supply that everyone depends on for sustenance. So much of the food consumed around the world is dependent on the work of pollinators. When this cycle is out of whack, it may translate to disruptions in the food supply.

Although you cannot control the weather, you can support the natural ecological balance in your corner of the world by being intentional about planting and cultivating plants native to your area. This will provide the necessary food that pollinators need.

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