It's been in the upper 60s here in my part of Maryland for the past week and my earthworms and some of my plants think it's spring. I went out yesterday morning and had little earthworm volcanos ALL over my yard . I cleaned out my hill garden yesterday and my poor irises had new shoots coming up under the leaves. I also have a couple columbine seedlings coming up and a couple of little astilbes. I also have weeds (have no idea what they are) sprouting that I don't usually see until spring.

Is it possible that the early cold snap we had (got into the 20s at night and upper 30s-low 40s during the day for a week or so) followed by a slow rise to the really nice, warm weather we're currently enjoying confused the plants? I know it's confused me. I'm not usually out walking around in my flip flops this time of year.

Will they be okay when winter really gets here or will they get killed by the cold? If weeds are sprouting due to the warm weather, will the cold kill them?

This is more "philosophy" than a hard answer to your question...

This is probably not the first time in the past million years that there has been a weird November, and there is little evidence that there have been any mass extinctions. That said, nobody can say whether the shoots will be harmed or not when the really cold weather arrives, and the plants could have to use up extra energy to make new shoots. Weaker, smaller plants next year? Maybe. When you throw a deck of cards up in the air, what card winds up on top? Dunno...

andy10917 wrote:This is more "philosophy" than a hard answer to your question...

This is probably not the first time in the past million years that there has been a weird November, and there is little evidence that there have been any mass extinctions. That said, nobody can say whether the shoots will be harmed or not when the really cold weather arrives, and the plants could have to use up extra energy to make new shoots. Weaker, smaller plants next year? Maybe. When you throw a deck of cards up in the air, what card winds up on top? Dunno...

I'll toss some of those mulched up leaves around the ones that I coming up to give them a little insulation. Sure hope my hostas hold out for the real thing!

Sure hope my hostas hold out for the real thing!

My hostas (I have over 500) are doing fine with the warm weather. Hostas like a prolonged cold period to "reset their clocks", which is really why they don't do well in the Deep South. It's often flower bulbs that are freshly-planted, etc that get fooled into sending up shoots early.

My only current problem in the Hosta Beds is a wicked moss invasion, under the leaves that were being used as a temporary reservoir. When the leaves were removed, I was astounded by the amount of moss that could grow in 4 weeks.

Rain and 60's here today. Unusual.

BuckeyeChuck wrote:Rain and 60's here today. Unusual.

Yep, same here a little south of Baltimore. I can remember plenty of Thanksgivings when the temperature was so nice you wanted to be outside, but I can't recall off the top of my head any Christmas weeks where the temps have hit the 60s.

70's here in NC and I've noticed crocuses starting to pop up. I saw a cherry tree in bloom about a week ago after our last warm up.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Avonlea22 wrote:70's here in NC and I've noticed crocuses starting to pop up. I saw a cherry tree in bloom about a week ago after our last warm up.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Thankfully, the only thing I have coming up are my irises and they are now about 5" high. I do have a new bud on my mini rose, which is rather odd this time of year, but oh well. I was out pulling weeds today which is something I can't ever recall doing two days before Christmas in the past. I'm just going to enjoy it as long as I can. The older I get, the more I hate cold weather!

I've seen irises in bloom just down the street from me. It's crazy!

[ Post made via iPhone ]