GLOBAL WARMING AND DENIAL
..........In mothers garden, November was the first frost this year. The usual expected date used to be the middle of October. Global warming has changed that by 2 weeks.
..........Of course, one season does not an environmental climate change make. However, the scientific information collected leaves no doubt that the earth is warming. And fast. After this rancorous election, one hopes that reason will prevail in Washington about trying to deal with climate change through real conservation and alternate energy sources.
..........I have just bought a beautiful 2011 calendar of photographs by Bradford Washburn, famous mountain climber, head of the Museum of Science for years, and Belmont resident to boot. It shows the snowcovered peaks and glaciers on mountains world wide. Comparing their width today with earlier years shows just how warm our planet has become.
..........Growing cabbages in the backyard or raising chickens is fun but not anything significant. Ditto making useful compost out of the leaves that fall. While we play at being "green," China is becoming the world leader for wind and solar. Our country should be spearheading our energy independence through subsidies and tax depreciation. Even Brazil does more than we do.
..........Instead oil barons and coal interests spend billions controlling political movements and media information so that their depreciation and tax benefits go untouched. BP is the rule, not the exception. Ditto the Koch brothers. (See the New Yorker, Aug. 27th article) . Climate change denial is a huge lobbying effort. And when winter comes, we just turn up the thermostat.
..........I have just bought a beautiful 2011 calendar of photographs by Bradford Washburn, famous mountain climber and head of the Museum of Science. (And Belmont resident to boot.) It shows the snow covered peaks and glaciers on mountains world wide. Comparing their width today with these earlier years shows just how warm our planet has become.
..........The plants can feel it. They change. They flower to match the temperatures. Sometimes they get confused, like this past fall. They perceived the first big fall rain after the hot summer-long drought as springtime. The magnolis, azaleas and andromeda, all opened their buds. Next spring will not have those flowers. Also all the trees colored together, instead of slowly and sequentially, as used to be normal.
..........Some plants even respond to the increased carbon dioxide in the air. Poison ivy likes it, and grows more vigorously, as do wheat and aspen trees
...........When winter comes, we just turn up the thermostat. More energy needed. It's time for some scientific sanity to sustain our civilization long term. A culture of NO is not an answer. Let's hope Washington gets rational government going again. And intelligent conservation, instead of platitudes from pretty/smiley faces.
...........Brad Washburn's photo calendars, which rival Ansel Adams' , have been lovingly put together by his daughter Betsy Washburn, (also a Belmont resident) and are available at An Elegant Affair store in Belmont Center. Also the New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton Highlands.
Ruth S. Foster is a landscape consultant and arborist. More gardening information can be found on her website: www.mothersgarden.net
