Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
This shouldn't be happening right now. But cherry blossoms are in bloom a month early at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge.
Tulips should be just an inch or two high, but at the moment, they are jutting up to a foot out of the ground.
It's likely happening because of climate change.
"We have many flowers blooming early," says Rachel Young, the Gardens' director of horticulture. "It's the warm weather."
Los Angeles was 4.5 degrees hotter than usual in January, according to the National Weather Service.
It's a boon for visitors who want to see as much color as possible.
"It's a great season for us for camellias because it's so warm," she says. "They're all kind of blooming together. It's kind of like a super bloom."
That comes with a trade-off, however.
"It's definitely a sign of stress," Young says. "It's really a problem for everyone in Southern California in that we will struggle to water all of the plants in our homes and gardens."
Lilacs at Descanso Gardens, for example, bloomed in the fall when they were supposed to do so in the spring. That may mean there will be less of a lilac bloom in the coming months.
Young cautions that the change in SoCal's climate could affect more plants than those at Descanso, too.
She believes the warmer temps may cause an early boom of California poppies and also affect the wildflower season.