Worms in the global warming apple

Last February the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the average U.S. temperature for January had been the highest ever. Nineteen of the hottest 20 years on record have occurred in just the last three decades.

In Britain, 10 of the warmest years on record have occurred since 1990, and July was the hottest month since records began. Last September, Britain’s Environment Minister, Ian Pearson warned the 27 million gardeners there that “they must face up to the challenges of climate change if they wanted to keep their cherished gardens looking splendid�.

In Canada, 2006 was the second warmest year on record (beaten in 1998 by .2 degrees Celsius.)

On Christmas Day I planted four-dozen spring bulbs. Last week, on Jan. 7, I was pulling weeds, hacking off chrysanthemum tops and scratching up the dirt in front of my workplace. It felt good. I could have worn shorts if I had a mind to. It was that warm.

In the home garden, snapdragons and Wave petunias are hinting that they’ll survive this winter in fine shape.

So what’s wrong with global warming? Lower heating bills, a longer gardening season and the chance to overwinter more tender species are definite advantages however a warmer future also has drawbacks.

Weeds like poison ivy and ragweed are flourishing. With higher temperatures and increased levels of CO2 ragweed produces 10 times the amount of pollen. Those prone to allergies will suffer even worse. Some weeds, like Canada thistle, are becoming more resistant to herbicides, requiring greater dosages because of higher carbon dioxide.

Wetter winters will challenge those who grow alpines, and other rot-susceptible plants. Raised beds filled with gravel to provide sharp drainage will be necessary.

We’ve all heard heard the warnings about ice caps melting, sea levels rising, more powerful storms and droughts. Generally in the Atlantic Provinces rainfall is quite dependable because of our proximity to the ocean, although droughts are not unknown.

The transition period will continue, with confused plants that normally bloom in the spring beginning to shove out flowers in late fall and early winter.

There’s little that gardeners can do about it all except adopt energy-saving practices… and perhaps pick out a spot to plant the orange grove.