Late Spring delays blooms in St Joseph's Square

The cold winter, and the very cold Spring of 2010 has set back the development of the blooms and colour of Saint Joseph's Square at St Patrick's College, Maynooth.

First to bloom despite the cold was the Daphne near New House, but it was caught by the late snows of February. Despite that, it cheered us with its magnificent blooms and scent.

Soon afterwards, the yellow flowered witchhazel (hamamelis) bloomed near Dunboyne house, but its little petals were also smothered in the snow, as were its orange flowered cousins at the opposite side of the square.

 

 

 

 

 

Daphne

 

 

 

 

Yellow and orange flowered Witchhazel (Hamamelis)

There are four magnolia trees that lie across the centre of the square from New House to Humanity. They demonstrate the different microclimates in the square, with the one near the door of New House blooming first, due to the heat of the south facing New House warming the air. Then about a week later the next one will bloom, and each in turn blooms about a week later than its neighbour. They have been in bud for several weeks, but are holding back due to the cold. They are distinctive in that their flowers appear before their leaves. Look out for them in the coming weeks.
The long-awaited snowdrops have finally pushed through the cold and hard ground, but much later than we have come to expect. The planet may be warming, but we ar having a cold and very late spring in Maynooth College!
DM