Gardening and Plant Adaptation in a Changing Climate

Earlier Spring and Longer Growing Seasons

• 🌱 Spring events like leaf and bloom are happening earlier across the country due to warmer global temperatures.
• 📈 The growing season has extended by over two weeks compared to the early 20th century.

Challenges for Plant Adaptation

• ⚠️ Rapid climate change is overwhelming for most plant species, making adaptation difficult.
• 🌳 There's a shift from diverse native ecosystems to monocultures dominated by invasive plants.
• 🥀 A significant percentage of the world's flowering plants are at risk of extinction.

The Role of Gardeners and Science

• 💡 Home gardeners can help by planting native species and protecting them, viewing their gardens as part of an ecosystem.
• 🔬 Scientists and students are researching and testing plants to develop varieties that are more heat and humidity tolerant for future conditions.
• 🌍 An estimated 100,000 plant species may still be undiscovered, with many threatened by extinction.