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Original air date:
10.10.07
Climate Change Might Have Some Benefits Too
How does your garden grow? Chances are, differently than it did 10 years ago. Climate change has been linked to extreme weather events and devastating species losses—but not everyone is complaining about some of its more subtle effects. Gardeners around the country are reaping a few benefits from the heat, enjoying longer seasons and the chance to grow exotic species they'd never dreamed of growing before. Palm trees in the Midwest? In a few years, who knows.
But these changes don't come without a cost: many regions are finding that their beloved flora are disappearing. Some state flowers, like the Minnesota showy lady's slipper, now have to be all but hunted down. And while the disappearance of a few flowers might not seem like a big deal, there are, of course, much more crippling losses occurring as well—like the white birch tree, which is vanishing from the Western U.S. thanks to the effects of climate change. With its disappearance could come the extinction of a number of animal and other plant species—possibly even the grizzly bear, which relies on its seeds for food.
WIRED Science visits scientists and gardeners across the country to talk about how climate change might affect our planet's flora in the coming years. We might enjoy more luscious and exotic gardens today, but what is in store for us tomorrow? There is only one thing we can expect for sure: Things are going to change.
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10.3.07 6:23 PM PDT
D. Napora
We have been growing Musa basjoo banana plants in the ground for the past two years in Western New York. We have also been growing Sabal major and Sabal minor and a windmill palm for the past two years. All the above plants survived outdoors through a northern winter.
10.11.07 7:08 AM PDT
steve
Perhaps Miss Teen USA was right about map reading skills in America, unless the Mississippi Magnolia is migrating EAST toward Georgia... or such as, the Iraq... who may not have maps.
Or perhaps it was a subtle wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more... "They'll never notice!"
Good program though, none the less.
Steve
10.13.07 7:31 AM PDT
Dave
True, climate changes have had some "benefit" for gardeners, but the fact still remains that the big picture shows us losing native flora and fauna. This will outweigh any impact from recreational activities such as gardening. I'm glad they still pointed that out.
Dave
10.24.07 9:14 AM PDT
arlene pellegrino
I don't know if global warming has anything to do with it, but living in the Rocky Mountains at 8,600 feet altitude, this was the first year that we still had flowers blooming outdoors into the first of October. We have always had a frost by Sep 4 or 5. We love it!
11.21.07 8:17 AM PST
Reggie Gramz
This will affect the way we all think and do with our plants. If one perso likes their state flower but cant grow it beacuse of the change in climate. That just plain out sucks. If we want this problem fixed we will have to change a lot of stuff that we do in our everyday life
11.21.07 8:19 AM PST
Klinton Edwards
I am unsure if global warming has much do do with our weather change in Brethren, Michigan. However thee is a big change that has been ocuring in previous years, The winter is horible. There used to be snow for hunting season or at least for Christmas but the snow is rain now instead. It is ruining our economy here because the snowmoblilers dont come anymore.
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