Hi Jeff,
There have been some very dramatic climatic shifts here in California over the last 50 years. I remember hearing reports of snow falling in Los Angeles during the 1960's. This was rare; however, it would occur during a cold air outbreak during the wintertime. During the 1970's it would still snow at times here in Sacramento. I remember walking across the snow-covered lawn on the college campus between classes sometime around 1975. These weather phenomena never occur now.
Climate change is now impacting some of the fruit growing regions in the southern San Juaquin Valley. Some winters do not provide adequate chilling hours for commercial pistachios and apricots orchards. During these seasons there is no fruit set/crop. There are so many other dramatic climatic changes taking place here in California; they are too numerous to mention.
What is most alarming is that the rate of change appears to be accelerating. A simple histogram of high temperatures extremes can illustrate this point well. Doing the math is interesting. Some of the recent high temperature extremes work out to be a once every 6,000-year event. It was only a few years ago that a high temperature extreme was only a once every 100-year event. Also, analyzing the average annual temperature on calendar year basis vs. July through June basis (the old precipitation season method) highlights either the summer or winter season. The 2014-15 season was the warmest to date at all altitudes in our region using the July through June method. This was a major drought year too. Vapor pressure deficit values in all areas were extreme. This is the same climate change driven process that has vastly intensified the recent Los Angeles fires. Needless-to-say the data indicates that climate change is having a major impact on our region including gardening.
Hellebores seem to be very popular. They are even sold in great numbers at our local nurseries. We do not grow any in our Sacramento garden, we cannot grow everything, however I did grow a few up at our El Dorado County farm many years ago. They seemed very drought tolerant and grew well.
Your project with Galanthus is interesting. I will be very curious to see how this progress for you. As I have already written, we grow only a few Galanthus in our Sacramento garden. I enjoy them; however, I need to stay focused on other creative gardening projects. I might be growing other plant species however I am interested in what other gardeners a doing or growing. It appears you are making good progress.
