I was at the Niagara Rhododendron Society Meeting and learned about phenology yesterday. This is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. How is climate changing and what is its impact on plants? (This is not the study of the human skull size - phrenology).
Dr. Robbie Hart's interest is rhododendrons in the mountains of south China - Mt. Yulong. He tracked the temperatures and the blooming times over two years.
He told us that one of the studies that has been done in relation to climate change has used historical records of various kinds. The Japanese have recorded Sakura blooming times over centuries - as part of novels, historical records, personal diaries, and more. Robbie showed a chart of the increase in temperature from around 700 to present day. You can see the article and chart HERE. It was published in the International Journal of Climatology, in 2008.
Japan is obsessed with cherry blossoms - and wonderfully so. There are so many everywhere that there is a cherry blossom forecast by region for 2018. Blooming starts as early as March 21st in some areas. A tour of the parks is shown in this article HERE
Our images today come from Hagley Museum - the Dupont's original powder works. It is in Delaware close-by to Longwood Gardens.
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