In a message dated 11/07/2010 16:21:10 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask] 
 writes:

<<Anyway, anyone else seeing the whole growing/blooming  season moved up 
this year?
In Dorset (southern England) the Rosebay  Willowherb is in full bloom and 
Himalayan Balsam are starting to flower. I  don't keep a diary of flowering 
times but I think these are much earlier than  usual.  Maybe Autumn is coming 
early to compensate for the late Spring,  compressing the Summer. This year 
has been the driest for a very long time and  I wonder whether soil 
moisture levels affect flowering  times.

Chris  >>


    Himalayan Balsam is just starting to flower on the  railway embankment 
above my allotment site, or was before I pulled all the  bloody stuff up! I 
haven't noticed any flowers on the much healthier looking  plants in the 
wood, where it's going to be damper; I must check. the odd plant  of rosebay 
willowherb on my plot has just started to flower. These are both  plants of 
the waterside, and I can't help suspecting this may be a response to  the 
drought rather than anything else.  

Regards,

Robert Brenchley
Birmingham  UK

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