The effects of rising global temperatures can appear where you least expect them.
Recently, one Redditor took to r/NativePlantGarden to describe a seasonal norm that's given way to unfamiliar winter warmth.
"All my fall planted wildflower seeds are sprouting. [I'm] angry and frankly terrified," the Redditor posted. "Decembers are always below freezing and snowy, and we've consistently had white Christmases ... for as long as I can remember.
"This year, it's been raining and in the 50s for weeks. Tomorrow is January."
The poster's observations echoed scientific reports of warming winters, and many green-thumbed commenters empathized.
One Redditor shared, "I've switched to doing stratification inside bc it just doesn't get consistently cold here like it used to."
Said another: "I live in a warmer climate (zone 8) and I see this even with our mild winters. Year after year they get warmer and warmer.
These anecdotes reveal rising temperatures' ripple effects on flora, farmers, and food systems.
Rising temperatures aren't the only climate-related phenomenon hurting the original poster's environment. "Last spring, we had a mid-May freeze that killed all my fruit tree blossoms and all the orchards near me were struggling," she wrote. "I'm no climate scientist, but I'm so, so concerned."
Witnessing one's home transform contrary to memory can elicit grief. The original poster gave voice to the anxiety many share as seasonal rhythms go haywire.
Still, some commenters focused on positivity and plant resilience, noting that the OP's observations may be normal. "I wouldn't stress too much," one commenter wrote. "This happened to us one year at the nursery I ran. Natives are definitely resilient little guys."
Another echoed that sentiment: "You'll be fine. They will bloom even harder in the spring if they are germinating now. Just make sure your soil is alive and active and you'll be ok."
Their exchange offers a peek into nature's resourcefulness.
The original post accrued nearly 700 upvotes, indicating the topic's relevance. As global temperatures rise, connecting with others over changes seen and felt makes change itself less isolating. In sharing observations, science, worry, and care, online communities such as this one light the way to solutions.
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