3.15.22

Redbud Winter

Fayetteville temperatures started climbing into the 60s and 70s before the end of February. Thanks to the warm weather, daffodils, camellias, and Bradford pear blossoms appeared in early March.

Since the flowers began blooming, I’ve kept an eye on my Taylor’s Perfection Camellia. It’s been loaded down with giant buds since December. Right as the blooms started to unfurl, redbud winter hit. The cold front decimated my camellias.

Have y’all heard of redbud winter before? Redbud winter is one of the South’s “little winters.” It’s the first cold snap of spring and coincides with the blossoming of redbud trees. This year it caused a freeze across the state. It even snowed back home in the mountains!

I bet I’m not the only one who discovered delicate flowers wilted from the cold. Did the recent freeze kill off your blooms too?

Leave a Comment