I photographed this lovely little dandelion blooming yesterday…yes, this is a Christmas dandelion. It was in Connecticut, the state that is a part of New England, on December 25. These temperatures may be enjoyable for some of us, but such a shift is not helping our plant or animal life. They need a prolonged, uninterrupted dormant period, and starting to “go” now only to be put back in more eventual cold and snow for a couple months may harm them later. We are likely to stay above-average for temperatures, but it will nevertheless cool off to something more seasonable. The warmth in this unbelievable climate may not mean much for a dandelion but it could mean a great deal in terms of a negative impact for wildlife and agriculture, and that is one of the great fears of climate change.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
