Treebeard`s Photos

Something strange and disturbing is happening in our woods. As a naturalist, I figure it's my job to "document the flora" - so here it is.

The BigPod Ceanothus (Ceanothus megacarpus) in the Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) plant family are already starting to flower! Usually we get a mass flowering in February. Some years they cover the mountains like snow that you can see from the beach. I have one early record of flowers from December. But what are they doing flowering now in mid-November? (San Marcos Pass, 15 November 2009)

A number of significant native plants are flowering very early this year. I guess the plants are confused by our great October rain this year. There are few insects working the flowers except for Honey Bees. Will they flower again when they "should" flower? I wonder - is this what global warming looks like locally?

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