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Spring frost could doom early blooms

Arboretum, farms cite risk to plants

By David Abel

 |  Globe Staff  

  March 27, 2012

Decorating the gentle hills of the Arnold Arboretum, the soft, white petals of magnolia trees are already riding the wind, spiraling to their ambrosial demise well before they usually ever bloom. Across the region, as the weather warmed in recent weeks, trees, plants, and flowers have begun sprouting buds, bulbs, and their full post-winter regalia significantly earlier than ever before, scientists say. “This is insane,’’ said John O’Keefe, retired coordinator of the Fisher Museum at the Harvard Forest.

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