Joe Waggle wrote:

"Its weird how weather can delay tree bloom by several
weeks, but dandelion and low lying blooms and such are
only about a week late."

Here in the south of England, we have had a very late spring.  Last 
year this time was apple blosson time, while this year, they aren't 
even in leaf yet.  Dandelion wine time started a couple of days ago 
whereas last year it was a fortnight at least earlier; however, in 
earlier times (half a century ago) they used always to mass bloom about 
St George's Day (23rd April).

Plants will be affected differently by the conditions.  Leafless plants 
will need a signal from nature, ie increasing warmth, to wake up, 
whereas perennially leaved plants like dandelions, which always have a 
rosette of leaves, will be prompted by increased solar radiation to 
start flowering, although heat will probably form part of the equation. 
  The sky has been very overcast this year compared to last which may 
have slowed them a little.

It would be interesting (but probably not for this forum) to study the 
effects of latitude and of the sunspot cycle on flowering times.

Chris

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