On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA April-May 2016 | Page 23

nology Network confirms that many spring
events across the world are occurring
earlier, and fall events are happening later
than in the past. However, not all species
and regions are changing at the same rate,
creating instability in ecosystems.
Unpredictability can thwart even the most
fervent grower. “The most frustrating thing
from the gardener’s point of view is the tremendous variability,” said Mark D. Schwartz,
Distinguished Professor of Geography at
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“Things are warmer in general, but that still
doesn’t tell you what’s going to happen in a
particular year, nor in a specific place.”

WHAT’S A GARDENER TO DO?
“We’re the first generation of gardeners
who can’t rely on the historic weather
record to tell us when to plant, what to
plant or how to grow it,” said David W.
Wolfe, Professor of Plant and Soil Ecology
at Cornell University. He’s optimistic about
the role that gardeners can play in successful climate adaptation. “Gardeners can be
at the forefront of illustrating how we adapt
and cope with climate change and reduce
our carbon footprint in the process.” Wolfe
emphasizes the importance of maintaining
biodiversity and good ecosystem services.
In the garden or natural landscape, it’s
essential that what we grow holds soil in
place while maintaining good soil and water quality. The way we grow those plants
minimizes impact on the environment.

PROS AND CONS: THE NEWS
ISN’T ALL BAD
Gardeners are naturally inventive and optimistic. Changes in their planting practices
and buying choices are already influencing trends. GWA member Nan Sterman,
a green industry professional based in
Southern California, is seeing an upside
to the water regulations and mandated
restrictions there. “What people want in
their gardens is usually an emulation of
what they see in their surroundings,” she
said.
As beautiful, water-wise landscapes
become more prevalent in neighborhoods and public spaces, people are
incorporating these concepts into their
surroundings. “Nurseries are offering
more drought-tolerant plants, including
California natives, succulents and Australian natives, which are well adapted to the
Mediterranean climate and blend harmo-

niously with the local terrain,” she said.
Favorable aspects of expanded frost intervals, adding as many as six to 20 more days
of growing time across the U.S., increase
the potential for crop and vegetable yields.
Nimble gardeners, prepared for an early
spring, might experiment with new and exciting species, or perhaps grow four plantings of radishes instead of three. Imagine
the benefits to air quality if trees were able
to grow longer and produce more leaves
each year.
Warmer gr