I’ve noticed the lilacs beginning to bloom in Eureka, and remembered that the blooming time of lilacs corresponds to the planting time for some crops. They are an “indicator” species, as it were.
The study of when plants bloom and other seasonal events (such as migration) is phenology. It can be used by observant gardeners to determine when to plant, even across different regions. Lilacs bloom at the same number of growing days, even when they do so at different dates.
Beans, cucumbers, and squash should be safe to plant when the lilacs are in full bloom.
The timing of lilac blooming (and leafing) was studied in-depth by a professor at MSU. We wrote about him last year.
Montana’s Greatest Climatologist
My one class in climate studies was about 40 years ago at Montana State University. The professor was Joe Caprio . . . yeah, “The Father of Scientific Phenology.” It’s interesting how many state climatologists make their starts as meteorologists. Anyway, I was back in school, getting enough credits in ag engineering to qualify as a professional with SCS, and when I took his class on climate, and when he learned of my experience in snow surveys, it became Mike and Joe – a very honored Mike that was told “Call me Joe.” Dr. Caprio’s specialization and research was climate…
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