Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Climate Change Changes

This is the time of year we receive the latest reports on climate change. NOAA and NASA reports say 2018 was the fourth-hottest year on record globally.

Graph courtesy of Climate Central.

2018 was also another near-record year for America’s weather and climate disasters. So what does this mean for our native trees? A lot!

How do fir, spruce, pine, beech, oak and ash ranges change?

See the video “Ecological responses to Climate Changes.”  In essence, Profession Jack Williams tells us the boreal trees we love will move farther north, while the hardwoods will become more prominent.  This has happened before, but over a period of a thousands of years — not the faster climate change we have been experiencing since the 1960s. So whether or not plants can move fast enough to survive is the big question. Let’s hope they can….

For more info, see Climate Control’s 2018 Global Temp Review: Land & Ocean.

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Climate Change causes Cherry Trees to Bloom Early

The Japanese Yoshino cultivar is the most common in DC and can be found encircling the Tidal Basin which is part of the West Potomac Park. Photo courtesy of Uberlemur at the English Wikipedia

You’ve probably read the peak bloom time for the cherry trees* in Washington DC is now approximately five days earlier than their first recorded date in 1921. This seems to be a trend everywhere in the USA and is likely the result of climate change.

Plants, trees and shrubs are blooming earlier because of milder winters and earlier spring thaws. These changes in climate, in conjunction with the longer falls, have increased the growing season in the 48 contiguous states by almost two weeks.

*The trees were given to the city of Washington DC as a gift of friendship from Japan in 1912.

Increases in frost-free season length correspond to similar increases in growing season length. This graph illustrates how the frost-free season length has increased in each US region from 1991-2012 relative to 1901-1960. A frost-free season length is defined as the period between the last occurrence of 32°F in the spring and the first occurrence of 32°F in the fall. Graph courtesy of EPA.

Affect of Changes in Growing Season

  • These changes affect entire ecosystems.
  • They disrupt plant-pollinator relationships.
  • They increase pest outbreaks.
  • They worsen allergies.
  • They alter water flows.
  • They produce earlier and longer fire seasons.
  • They affect the local economy.
  • They also can disrupt tourism like they’re seeing in Washington DC right now.

 

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Spring Blooms

Spring is here, but with all the snow still on the ground, I’m not certain the ephemerals will be too eager to show their delicate blossoms.

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is the most delightful spring ephemeral not only because of it’s cute name, but also because of its cute blossoms and frilly leaves.

The first thing that typically shoves through the ground here at my home is the Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaira). I have some that grows naturally, along the east fence line around the pool area, which typically shows itself first thing after the spring equinox. But not yet this year!

Other patches have been transplanted, from plant rescues, into the wooded area I created many years ago, and probably because they get less sun, they bloom a tiny bit later in the spring.

Virgina Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) and Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) just poking through the ground in the spring.

The next thing that typically pokes itself through the ground is the Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum). Although often considered a weed, it is a native plant and a god-send for our early pollinators looking for nectar. So don’t be too eager to get rid of this rather aggressive native plant.

Phenology

Do you keep a history of when your plants bloom? I prefer to take photos, but many people write and/or draw in a journal or enter data in a log. Keeping this type of a history is called phenology.

“Phenology is the study of the influence of climate on the timing of biological events, such as annual plant flowering and seasonal bird migration. These events are partially driven by changes in temperature and precipitation; therefore, phenology studies how these events may reflect changes in climate. Since events are partially driven by shifts in temperature and precipitation, studying phenology can provide insights into changes in climate.” (USGS)

I find it interesting to see how the seasonal variations in our climate affect the blossoming of our plants, trees and shrubs. If you don’t currently track the blooming times of your native plants, give it a try. You will be surprised by what the data shows you.

Note: If you’d rather use the Internet, instead of creating your own history, go to  Project Budburst and become one of their citizen scientists.

Leave a comment and let me know what’s coming up in your yard.

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Botany Bill HR1572

Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) outstanding amongst the Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Photo by Joan Rudolph

On March 6, 2019 Representative Quigley (D-IL) and co-sponsor Representative Rooney (R-FL) reintroduced the “Botany Bill”* in the House of Representatives. The bill is similar to the version from the 115th Congress. It supports plant research, the placement of botanists in the land management agencies, the plant conservation programs, the plant conservation alliance and NFWF grants for plant-related projects.

The creation of a native plant “preference policy” for federal land restoration has been slightly modified — under the new bill, the Departments of Interior and Agriculture will create a policy and disseminate it to other agencies. This modification dramatically cuts the number of committees required to review the bill and improves chances for action.

Botany Bill Website

Visit the Botany Bill website for more information and helpful resources to help you get to know the bill and navigate the legislative process. Watch the Botany Bill website for updates on the bill’s progress or sign up for the Botany Bill Mailing List.

Endorsement

To successfully work its way through Congress, this bill will need as many organizations as possible to endorse the bill. If any botany-related organizations to which you belong have not already endorsed this bill, please bring this to their attention and ask them to let Plant Conservation Alliance – Non-federal Cooperators Committee Chicago Botanic Garden & Garden Club of America know if your name can be added as an endorsing organization (PCA) know they’d like to support HR1572.

On the other hand, if your organization endorsed the previous Botany Bill (HR1054; S3240), PCA will  assume it wishes to endorse the current bill. If it does not wish to endorse the current bill, however, it must contact PCA to let them know it is NOT interested in endorsing the current version.

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) standing above the Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Left, Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) towers overall as it grows to maturity. Photo by Joan Rudloph

What can you do to help?

We as individuals need to push for this legislation. Please take a minute to forward this email to like-minded friends, colleagues and professional acquaintances.

Besides endorsing this bill yourself, you can also help by reaching out to your representatives and letting them know you support the bill and ask them to co-sponsor/sign-on to the bill. E-mail or call your representative or make an in-person visit to their local or DC office. To write to your legislators to express your opinion about this bill, go to Congress.gov.

*Full name: The Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act

Summary of HR1572

Track the bill’s progress

The above notice is printed in part with permission of PCA – A collaborative effort of
Plant Conservation Alliance – Non-federal Cooperators Committee
Chicago Botanic Garden & Garden Club of America

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