Climate change is affecting all aspects of our natural environment, and our backyard gardens are no exception. A new exhibit at Longwood Gardens is showing visitors how the warming weather trend is effecting garden plant growth.
The exhibit is a pilot project of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The exhibits consists of a panel with climate data from NOAA on anticipated changes in average minimum temperature and how this will affect planting zones in the U.S. A Longwood-sponsored research project has already shown that for the last 150 years plants are blooming, on average, one day earlier per decade.
The exhibit is also accompanied by a cell phone recording featuring a NOAA scientist and Longwood Graduate Fellow, who go into detail about their findings on climate change and bloom times for plants.
This pilot is part of a larger project by NOAA and APGA to educate gardeners and garden enthusiasts on the climate change’s possible effects on gardens, landscapes and green spaces.
Visitors can see the panel during Longwood’s regular hours. The exhibit is located near the Peirce-du Pont House. For more information on Longwood and visiting hours, visit them at longwoodgardens.org.