[Intheswamp]

Ok, I know this season has been a not so normal one but I'm wondering about something...

I've always thought that plants start blooming first in the southern states and then the bloom moves northward. I've been hearing folks in the northern states and even up into Canada talking about goldenrod already blooming. Here in south central Alabama I haven't seen any blooming yet. We've been getting more rain than normal this summer in our local area, really nice for a change. I'm wondering if this is holding the goldenrod back. So, is the goldenrod blooming up north before it blooms in the south "normal"?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[casinoken]

LOL, no Ed, that's not how it works. The fall blooming plants bloom earlier in the north due to their shorter summers. Here in Mississippi, u won't see goldenrod blooming until late August-mid September, because of our longer growing season. I'm sure it is the same in Crenshaw. Plants bloom according to sunlight and/or temperature. That is why the northern states have earlier late blooms than we do.

 

[Michael Palmer]

From the smell, our goldenrod flow started on August 6. Yesterday the fragrance was a bit much. In a normal year, the flow starts about the 15th and ends before the middle of September. I expect the flow will last until late August this year. As with eall the flows this year, it's a week or two early.

Not only does goldenrod flow period vary from north to south, it varies east to west. My flow will be winding down, and over Buffalo way it will be just starting.

 

[scrapiron]

Its blooming here in SC

 

[DBF]

Everything was a month early this year here in Kansas the I started to see goldenrod blooms three weeks ago.

 

[Acebird]

I think it has to do with moisture and not temperature so much. When the moisture gets dryer entering fall the bloom initiates. Most vegetables bolt when it gets dry.

 

[Intheswamp]

LOL, no Ed, that's not how it works. The fall blooming plants bloom earlier in the north due to their shorter summers. ...<snip>

Thanks casinoken! Duh, I feel like a real dunce, now. But I get over things pretty quick. That makes perfectly good sense, but I've never thought about it. Thanks for my continuing education!

I just looked at some goldenrod photos I took last year, they were in full bloom with the dates ranging from 9/10/11 to 10/04/11. On 10/12/11 I took some pictures of some asters and tarweed that looked pretty good and then on 10/27/11 I made some pictures of some wild aster but they were beginning to look a little tired. So if I go by these dates and consider the seasons are about 2 weeks ahead of schedule I should have goldenrod in full bloom by the last week in August? I have looked at some grod and there is some swelling of the buds. It will be interesting to see when it starts blooming this year...hopefully it won't be too early.

Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

<snip> Not only does goldenrod flow period vary from north to south, it varies east to west. My flow will be winding down, and over Buffalo way it will be just starting.

I checked a map out and there is 2-degrees latitude difference between Buffalo and St. Albans....could that difference along with Buffalo being situated on the shore of Lake Erie cause the difference in bloom times rather than the difference of latitude? Just thinking...

Ed

 

[adam@azapiaries]

Most general rule, After the solstice, the northern latitudes and altitudes speed up and surpass the lower ones. Think about it, the plants need to beat the oncoming winter.

 

[Intheswamp]

I got it, Adam...thanks for the reinforcement. Amazing isn't it? God knows what he's doing whether we do or not.

Ed

 

[JRG13]

Moisture has little to do with flower signaling. It's typically a temperature and day length respsonse. Some crops even need to reach a number of 'heat units' before flowering is initiated as well, others need cold vernalization. Water stress can initiate flowering at times but it's not ideal. Lot of plants fall under a short day or long day category as well but it's actually the length of darkness that's critical. Even short bursts of light at night can prevent flowering.

 

[mulesii]

This is an interesting thread. I have not yet seen any goldenrod blooming here in South East PA.

 

[luka]

goldenrod started blooming here in Eastern MA end of july beginning of August and so has the Asters
girls really starting to turn up the activity now

 

[Intheswamp]

Ok, just today I spotted a smattering of goldenrod blooming...more to come.

 

[sammyjay]

I think it blooms in the north before it does in the south. Our goldenrod is already been going into seed for a little while. I am a little bit further north than 52 degrees latitude.


Nathan

 

[sqkcrk]

Amazing isn't it? God knows what he's doing whether we do or not.

Ed

A. You seem surprised.
B. What's GOD got to do w/ it?

 

[jmgi]

God is at the control panel pushing all the buttons and levers, are you surprised at this? John

 

[sqkcrk]

I'm surprised when someone brings GOD into a Forum on bees and beekeeping. I'm also surprised when people reduce GOD to a Technical Theatre Manager.

This is a Thread about Goldenrod Blooming, not GOD.

 

[Hokie Bee Daddy]

I'm surprised when someone brings GOD into a Forum on bees and beekeeping. I'm also surprised when people reduce GOD to a Technical Theatre Manager.

I'm not surprised. Reverend Langstroth brought God into beekeeping in "The Hive and the Honeybee" very eloquently so to do so is normal and continues the legacy.

On the subject of Goldenrod, aren't there many different varieties of Goldenrod and will this not explain some of the blooming difference? Most on this forum talk about how great the fall goldenrod bloom is and how much nectar the bees collect but I get nothing but pollen here - year after year. I asked a local beekeeper and they said it was our variety - whatever that is.:kn:

 

[Intheswamp]

A. You seem surprised.
B. What's GOD got to do w/ it?

A. Not a bit.
B. Everything.
C. ...and we've both revealed a bit about ourselves,