07/12/06
Climate change and one of the mildest Autumns on record has produced
an unexpected pleasure at Aberglasney Gardens near Llandeilo in
West Wales.
The Daffodil variety is early flowering and in a sheltered area
but wouldn't have been expected before early spring.
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A beautiful display of daffodils has appeared in the Bishops Rudd
walk area, the first time staff have seen them flowering this early.
Director Graham Rankin says he's amazed and attributes the development
to climate change. The variety is early flowering and in a sheltered
area but wouldn't have been expected before early spring.
"I was really surprised to see these flowers", he added. "It's
further proof that the climate is changing in my view. I have never
seen these daffodils flower this early before and it was a real
shock to see this really beautiful display.
"There is always the occasional primula and cyclamen this
time of year, but to see such a traditional spring flowering plant
like the daffodil is a very welcome and unusual sight.
"Other signs of climate change here have been the autumn colours
which extended well into November, where normally they used to
be at their best the second week of October. And there are tree
ferns and a wider variety of other tender plants grown in the gardens
than ever there used to be."
Variety
Graham Rankin says visitors are always amazed at how much there
is to see in the garden at this time of the year. There is always
a wide variety of different flowers and plants.
"On New Years Day I counted 28 different flowers that were
out in the garden", he continues. "For me the most precious
of all winter flowering plants is Daphne bholua which starts to
flower in November and lasts until the middle of February, the
exotic perfume of the small white flowers is absolutely fantastic
and are very welcome indeed during the bleak months of winter.
"Other plants in flower at the moment include the winter flowering
Honeysuckle, Mahonias, Christmas Box (Sarcococca) Camellia sasanqua
and the amazing Witch Hazels (Hamamelis) are just coming into flower.
There are also various different coloured barks, berries and architectural
foliage to add to the interest and beauty of the garden".
Climate Change
Meanwhile the co-ordinator of the UK Phenology Network which monitors
nature's calendar believes that this is one of the warmest Autumns
on record. Dr Tim Sparks believes it's the start of the visible
part of climate change, but is confident that farmers and growers
can successfully adapt.
"Certainly the evidence is stacking up that autumns are now
changing in much the same way as we have got very, very, strong
evidence about Spring changing", he told BBC Farming Today
recently.
"It's quite extraordinary that we have events at this time
of the year when we are just starting to anticipate the earlier
Spring events as well. Unfortunately CO2 and some of the other
greenhouse gasses take so long to break down in the atmosphere
that some warming is inevitable and even if we stop production
of CO2 now we will still see an increase in temperature.
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