Late Blooming of Plants from Northern Nova Scotia: Responses to a Mild Fall and Winter

Abstract

Over 1400 flowering records of 135 species were recorded from over 125 visits to more than 20 sites in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia from November 2005 to January 2006, when the growing season is normally over. The species identified were primarily herbaceous dicots; however, there were four species of woody plants (Cornus sericea, Spiraea latifolia, Symphoricarpos albus and Salix sp.) and one monocot (Allium schoenoprasum). The number of species flowering declined linearly as fall progressed, as did the amount of flowering for each species. Nevertheless, over 40 species were still in flower in early December, and over 20 species flowered in January. The final flowering date was 21 January, when ten species were found. This work builds on a previous study in 2001, when 93 species were recorded in flower during November-December. In addition to the 30% increase in recorded species in 2005, almost 50% of the species found in 2005 were not recorded in 2001. This study provides an expanded baseline against which changes in flowering phenology can be evaluated with respect tosubsequent regional climate change.