And, before anyone responds 
o that as a challenge to global climate change (the climate is changing; it 
lways does, whether or not we actually influence it), I know that overall 
lobal warming can lead to regions of colder weather, due to changes in things, 
ike wind and current patterns, with some scenarios actually predicting that 
ffect for northern New England. 

I'm writing from Old England where we don't have climate, we have weather.  This last winter has been the coldest for very many years but it's getting a bit spring-like now. Today it is suddenly dandelion wine making time as the annual flush has erupted.  This is unprecedentedly early. In the days when I used to use them for wine making, maybe a quarter of a century ago, the flush usually occurred around St George's Day (23rd April for those who aren't English).  The last few years it has been getting progressively earlier, last year about the 8th April.  So has the swarming season been getting earlier - bees like dandelions!

Why are they getting so early when the winter weather has been so unkind?  Could it possibly be something to do with solar radiation rather than global warming (and local cooling)?  I understand the sunspot cycle is becoming active but am not sure whether this means more radiation or less. Dandelions have a fairly permanent rosette of leaves and so I wonder whether it is possible that they act as natural radiation detectors and that a certain level triggers off mass blooming?  Gavin might know!

Chris

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