Homegrown: Late bloomers
Lilacs bloom on Oct. 20, 2012, outside Ken Werling's home in Amber, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Ken Werling of Amber, a small town near Anamosa, gave me a call about his lilacs that were blooming – this month.
“It’s just a freak of nature,” he said of the blossoms, which his daughter noticed while working on his roof around Oct. 1. “They’re blooming, but I don’t know why.”
Werling and his wife have lived in their home for 32 years and this is the first time that the lilacs – an Iowa springtime staple – have re-bloomed in the fall.
He says the flowers bloomed in the spring, as usual, but speculates the spring frost may have played a role.
Lilacs were blooming much sooner in Iowa this year, so I wonder if that also might be a factor.
If you have a theory or have noticed any other unusual gardening phenomena, post your photos or findings on Homegrown’s Facebook page or on our reporter’s notebook at www.TheGazette.com/Living
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