December 09, 2015

Dandelions in December?

december dandelion

(Anna at Flutter and Hum hosts Wednesday Vignettes.)

48 comments:

  1. Has your fall weather been as freaky as ours? We are going to be up 13C this weekend. I'm not one to complain about a bit of warmer weather, but I'm worried that my plants may get confused, just as your dandelion obviously is. I'm particularly worried about my fruit trees, especially the newly planted apples.

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    1. Yes, every day the weather people say the moderate weather will last "for the foreseeable future." Our forecast is for 12C/54F tomorrow, so it sounds similar to yours. I noticed my Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths are poking out of the soil on the south side of the house. The Hydrangea looks like it's about to break bud, so that new growth will be toast after the next cold snap. I hope your Apple trees come through OK!

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  2. Signs of the times. The way it's going we'll be having a snowdrops and roses winter again here too.

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    1. Yes, crazy. Spring-flowering bulbs are poking out of the soil here and the Hydrangea is breaking bud. No doubt, I'll have some damage come the next cold snap. Strongest El Nino recorded--no surprise about the plants.

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  3. I was glad I only wish it would be like coming frost. Regards.

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    1. The comfortable temperatures are nice, but the plants are mixed up. Sounds like you're having similar crazy weather?

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  4. So many too. So spring-like yesterday, I was expecting self-seeding petunias.

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    1. Self-seeding Petunias ... wow! I don't have any here, but I noticed today that some of the Snapdragons haven't died yet. Wow.

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  5. Is n't it amazing? The weather is totally mixed up. We have lovely sunny weather this week with temperatures up to 14 degr.C., certainly not normal for the time of year. I wonder if this is going on, we almost have not had frost in 3 years, I'm so sorry that my skates hang in the willow so long.

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    1. Almost no frost in three years! That seems unusual for your part of the world? Skating is a national past-time and transportation method, right? Our lakes would usually be frozen or partially frozen by now, but they're wide open. I'm sure the ice fishermen and skaters and hockey players are probably disappointed.

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  6. We have them too! I also found a violet blooming in the lawn. Ha...

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    1. A Violet! Wow. I'm scared to look at the garden tomorrow. I think I'm going to lose some new growth on one of my Hydrangeas because it's about to break bud. Crazy.

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  7. We have some too... Hope the bees don't come out too soon from hibernation... Michelle

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    1. A very good point, Michelle! I hope not, too. Hopefully, they know better!

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  8. Crazy indeed. I saw a Dandelion the other day too. Half of me is saying "just one more week of this so I can finish what I need to finish". The other half of me does a snow dance to entice the weather gods. Didn't ski a single time last year. This year, I hope to.

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    1. I'm enjoying the warm weather, but I do worry about the plants and the wildlife. I've heard some reports that fruit trees are budding, which would be bad news for the crops. I also noticed some of my Daffodils, Grape Hyacinths, and other plants are starting to break soil. I hope they'll survive the winter!

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  9. So it's not only in Spain that weather is so crazily warm! I am really worried because it's not only unusual warm but also very dry, not a drop of rain in fall and after a long a very hot summer! in Madrid authorities are observing some traffic restrictions due to pollution. Really scary if measures are not taken immediately.

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    1. Yikes! I didn't realize Madrid had gone so long without rain. That's what worries me about this weather pattern, too. If it's warm now, I hope that doesn't mean we'll have a hot, dry summer again like we did in 2012. It was really hard on the plants and animals. I hope you get some rain soon!

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  10. Such a special surprise...a bit of warm sunshine!

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    1. Yes, it's bright and cheery, but very unusual for us. I don't remember seeing them in December before. Strange. But I guess El Nino is strong this year.

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  11. Crazy weather here also, no dandelions though and at the moment missing the floods which are only about 60 miles North of where we are.

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    1. I'm glad you didn't have damage from the floods--boy, it's really been bad for some folks, hasn't it? Take care!

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  12. Great photo! Here it is warm, but any dandelion that would dare to bloom would quickly be drowned in the torrential rain. Our three day total is now at 5.41" and rising quickly.

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    1. Thanks. Wow, I can't believe how much rain you guys are getting! Some of the recent reports are saying that El Nino will weaken by February--just in time for us to have some big snowstorms before springtime. I hope the rain will let up a bit for you in the days ahead.

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  13. Love the bright and cheery dandelion juxtaposed with the photo of your last post. Ah, the capriciousness of nature.

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    1. Yes, well-said. Even though we had snow and frost already, overall this autumn/early winter have been so mild for us. One good thing is that travel is safer for folks preparing for the holidays. Apparently, we are forecast to have colder temps in about a week--but still milder than "normal."

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  14. Reading the comments from everyone...the message is clear. Our weather is changing and not for the better. I was particularly interested in Lulu's comment about Spain, and also what Michelle wrote about the bees coming out of early hibernation. I appreciate reading everyone's thoughts. Here in Portland, it is way too warm for the season and flooding from heavy rains!

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    1. Yes, I've been worried about the bees lately, too. We're supposed to get much cooler temps by next weekend. But tomorrow we'll probably break another record--with a high around 60. I hope things normalize soon, but it has been nice to not have to fight severe cold and heavy snow.

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  15. Crazy weather, isn't it? I haven't seen any dandelions in my neighborhood, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

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    1. Yes, crazy! We found several up at the cottage in Marquette County. I haven't seen any here, but my home garden is a little shadier. I can't believe how warm it is today. If it wasn't raining I'd be out hiking or gardening or anything! It feels like spring!

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    1. Wow! Yes, I suppose this is their type of weather. My Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths are starting to sprout. Hope we don't have too much (or any!) subzero weather this winter!

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  17. It really has been that mild, hasn't it?! Hope this doesn't mean another crazy winter where it makes up for the lack of snow come February...

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    1. Yes, although I was surprised to find Dandelions. I'm a little worried, as someone else mentioned, that the bees might come out of hibernation. But I haven't seen any, and our forecast is for cooler temps by next weekend--which will bring us closer to "normal."

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  18. I didn't see any dandelions here, but then, I didn't look very hard. I wouldn't be surprised to find one with this warm weather. My hens have been loving the time to dig in the garden, normally they'd be cooped up (no pun intended, lol) by the snow.

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    1. Oh, I bet the hens love it! I've noticed the squirrels are very active lately, too. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the winter brings us.

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  19. LOl, we are having milder temps here too. But, I do not see any dandelions. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Eileen. I hope you're having a pleasant weekend, too! We saw Dandelions north of here, even. Some of the plants seem confused.

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  20. I haven't walked around the garden in awhile, but maybe I should--with these warm temperatures this past week, I might find a dandelion, too! I heard the other day that we're supposed to have a mild December and January, but then winter will really hit us in February. I hope all my bulbs don't start coming up early!

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    1. Yes, I heard that report, too, Rose. But then some new reports came out from NOAA that El Nino is just getting started. So, perhaps the entire winter will be mild. That would be easier to deal with. Late cold snaps and snowstorms can be so unpleasant! ;-)

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  21. Well, it's 70 degrees (F) today with similar temperatures expected the next 2-4 days.

    That's about 20 degrees above normal for us.

    As you know, I have one Viburnum blooming and another looking like it might start soon.

    Dandelions aplenty here and I just saw tulips poking through the soil today.

    I fear there will be some damage when normal temps return (which is supposed to happen toward the end of next week, when long-range forecasts call for highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s).

    Usually, I'm happy for a warm spell in winter, but this is ridiculous and - like you - I'm worried about the plants.

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    1. Yikes! Yes, I'm starting to worry about the plants, too. Although our late autumn/early winter this year is probably more like your "normal" conditions. And we grow some of the same plants so mine will probably be OK. It's like we're having a zone 7 winter here and yours is more like an 8 or 9? Until the cold weather hits ...

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  22. Same here, but that cold front came through, and we're now in the 40s. Yay. We don't want spring until it's supposed to come.

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    1. Wow, weird that you're in the 40s while we're in the 60s. I agree, Dee, we don't want spring too early because that could be problematic for the plants and animals. I'm watching the Packer game now, and Green Bay (which is north of me) is really mild, too. Strange.

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  23. I've been wandering around outside without a jacket, it's been so warm. Would have gone out today to do some pruning but too much rain.

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    1. I know, it's been so comfortable lately. Even if/when winter finally hits, the more time goes by with mild weather, the shorter the winter will be. :)

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  24. That is crazy! I think you've been warmer than we have. We had a nice Fall but it's cold & snowy now. I'd rather have the snow now than in the spring when I'm ready for warm...

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    1. Yeah, it's been crazy mild here. Now we're spoiled. It's supposed to get cold by the weekend, but then warm again next week. Next to zero chance of a white Christmas. Oh well, it's better for holiday travel. I'm a little worried about the effects of this weirdness on the plants and animals, though.

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