Why does my magnolia tree have blossoms in late October?

[short bus president]

I was accosted by a bee while taking the above photo, BTW. OK, so it's not "charged by a water moccasin" or "impaled by a narwhal," but it was still traumatic for me.

[nutsnberries]

1. it's a SIGN !!!

peace.

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. Here's why

Spring flowering plants can be tricked into blooming in the fall if they're stressed by a dry late summer that is followed by wet conditions. The summer stress causes some of the flower buds to break and flower out of season.

I wish I just pull info like that out of my butt, but there was actually this very same question in our paper today in a Q & A column. This info is according to Jim Midcap of the University of Georgia Extension Service.

[short bus president]

8. That's weird.

We've had an extremely wet end to the summer, what with the month of hurricanes and all, and a pretty rapid onset of fall here in central NC.

Maybe my magnolia's just to young to know any better?

[bahrbearian]

3. My Rhododendron is re-blooming.

[olacan]

4. Its

Bush's fault.

[RubyDuby in GA]

7. Seriously, you know better than this

It's Clinton's fault. :)

[redqueen]

5. Sorry about the bee

:hug:

Thanks for the pretty picture.

[moobu2]

6. I'm not sure but

It looks like spring here in Mobile Al (well sort of). We have an azalea and a redbud blooming and all the trees and shrubs have fresh spring like growth.

I think it's because Hurricane Ivan took off more than half of all the leaves from nearly everything which caused the plants to go into a groth spell..just my theory.