Crazy Weather

At this time of the year we should be shivering in the low 70s. Instead we are perspiring in the middle to upper 80s. The long term forecast is for this weather to continue with excursions into the 90s. Naturally my plants are confused. My many seedlings instead of making steady growth, think it is Spring and are flowering instead of forming leaves. Indigenous plants that have been hibernating are coming to life. Castor Bean seedlings are happily flowering and some of the Amaranth seedlings have flowers vigorously forming but the leaves look very sad. Dahlias, that are native here (in theory), are all producing flowers but the plants have not yet matured. The Flowering Maples which are difficult to germinate appear very happy and producing flowers when only about 9 inches high.
I have an ominous feeling that when the really hot weather starts my garden could be a disaster.

A flowering Maple and one of the many Dahlias flowering.

My intention of germinating more temperate plant seeds has now been thwarted.
Petunias, Snapdragon etc grow happily here in the Spring provided the seeds are germinated in the cool Winter temperatures.

Our winter here so far is warmer than the fall was. Good for my plants here as most are from more tropical regions than mine. The weather changes do give one pause, however. The coming years should be interesting . . .

Very warm here too. My plumeria think summer is here LOL.

It is interesting to note that my Dahlias growing from last years tubers are making splendid new growth and towering over the seedlings but making no attempt to flower.
The difference I suppose between youthful exuberence and adult experience.

Let's see. We had snow 3 weeks ago with temps in the low 30's. In 2 days, it went u to the 70's and stayed there. Right now, it's almost 80. Everything is confused. The cymbidiums and Phaius tankervilliae are putting our buds. Some of the spring bulbs are starting to come out. I'm just afraid we'll have some near freezing temps in the next 6 weeks that might destroy all of these.
Jo-Ann

I just checked the temp maps at Weather Underground and southern Greenland has temps near 50 with a strong southeast wind! The really cold air is confined to western Canada and Alaska, and the jet stream is coming in off the Pacific, not the cold northern/northwestern land mass. But it is the temps in Greenland that really surprise me. Near 50? In January?

The Capital Nuuk just below the arctic circle on the west coast is having constant temperatures of around 32 ° F. which is reassuring. The east coast is probably being warmed by winds off of the Ocean. The North Atlantic is about 50° f this time of the year.

We are entering our 5th week of a cycle that starts with a cold front Sun into Mon, tue and wed warming trend, thur, fri, sat humid and warm highs 80, lows 60...
Because those cold fronts aren't getting far off shore, they don't last long.
My Pink Magnolias are budding, birds are building nests, and I've spotted several flocks of geese...flying north.

While our winters are normally mild, I don't think my garden has ever looked quite this way in Jan, which is normally our coldest month. I've discarded the rules and started the spring branch trimming.

I am glad that I am not alone in my trepidation. I must accept what will happen and rely on my sprinklers.
I am visited by many colourful migrating birds attracted by the Sprinklers for a bath. It will be interesting if they start arriving early.
February/March is our "Fall" when the trees shed their leaves and bloom in preparation for the very dry weather. I wonder if they will be fooled.