Singularities

Talk about late arriving ‘winters’ on TAHS, Saturday 8am! BNBBC here.

 

Singularities are recognized as a recurring phenomenon.  No, I’m not referring to the hypothetical future creation of super-intelligent machines. I’m also not referencing a one-dimensional point, which contains a huge mass, in an infinitely small space, where density and gravity become infinite and space-time warps, and where the laws of physics as we know them cease to operate. What’s that got to do with gardening?  Those singularities likely don’t have, or ever will have, an effect on horticultural practices. The meteorological singularities, to which I refer, are the seasonal ‘blips’ in weather.  Cool spells in the spring, which we identify, by what is currently flowering.

 

Once spring has officially arrived, every occurring cool spell begs the question: Which winter is this?  The answer to that question usually coincides with the current, predominant flowering native tree in bloom.  You can safely say that this ‘winter’ is dogwood winter.  The dogwoods are most certainly putting on a show! 

 

Redbud winter has already passed. That ‘winter’ typically occurs by early April.  After dogwood, locust winter arrives, usually around late April/early May.  By the time mid-May comes, it is usually time for blackberry winter.  Each of the previous ‘winters’ make sense, though often I hear many people debating which ‘winter’ is currently happening, when flowering times overlap; I always assume it is the later flowering native.

 

Then there’s that most curious ‘winter’ of all.  It has nothing to do with anything being in bloom, unless you count the ‘bloomers’ themselves.  This ‘winter’ goes by a variety of names, depending on where you come from.  Britches winter, or linen britches winter, or cotton britches winter, all refer to the fact that the last cold spell has arrived, after which, you can safely put away your winter clothes… normally by mid-May.

 

We so appreciate the outpouring of love and support!  Weekend afternoons have been nearly overwhelming.  If you visit through the week, or online, you can avoid the throng of gardeners: particularly important if you need some guidance with a landscape plan. 

 

David Bates