What better proof of unseasonably warm weather than this cherry blossoms in December. Last year this tree in my neighborhood bloomed also in the winter time, and in January 2007 some of the trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden behaved similarly. Cherry blossom trees actually bud in the summertime, but they don't open until the following spring. Plants do not keep calendars, are not trained timekeepers and they go only by what nature dictates as the suitable season; since nature has been uncooperative, these poor plants are terribly confused.
What used to be an April event seems to be happening earlier and earlier every year. In Japan the same anomaly has been observed and is of grave concern since this may affect one big source of their revenues - the Cherry Blossom Festival that attract tourists to this beautiful country. Once a cherry blossom tree blooms, that's it for the year. So what will they do, move back the festival dates earlier and earlier? How about Washington, DC and the rest of the country that pride themselves with gorgeous cherry blossoms in the spring? And what about the botanists and horticulturists? Rewrite the textbooks? Oh what a mess this could create.
Save the serious blogging for the Cooler Heads Coalition, but this sure is one of the early warning signs of global warming. The earth is heating up and the consequences irreversible.
During the dull days of winter these flowers are a welcome sight. Unusual, so, in the years to come what can we expect in April? Dog days, I hope not.
