YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The snowdrop flowers at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Metro Parks are typically among the first plants of the year to bloom.
Still, they are about a month early.
"Snowdrops will often come about when the snow melts and we see them popped up in the ground and some white color. But they're in full bloom right now. I wouldn't doubt if we see some bees around," said Keith Kaiser, Horticulture Director at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Metro Parks.
Bees? In February? "The Bee Man," Bob Chmelik agrees.
"They were out buzzing me yesterday and even this afternoon because I've been doing some work around my hives and they've been out flying, yes," Chmelik said.
Not only have Chmelik's honey bees been active because of the warmer temperatures, but the lack of cold weather is keeping other insect populations, the ones that burrow into the ground, from thinning out. So this could mean more pests this summer.
"What we really need is like zero weather and have it like that for about a week and that cold will get into the ground," Chmelik said.
These would not be ideal conditions for budding daffodils and many other blooming foliage though. Kaiser said that the plants can still survive a cold snap.
"It won't kill the whole plant. It might kill what's going to flower yet this year or leaves. So even the daffodils, it might take off the top, but they'll be okay," Kaiser said, adding that we don't need to worry about covering up our plants.
