Plants can provide a forecast for weather and point to climate change

PHENOLOGY, the study of seasonal changes in living things, measures the timing of events like the arrival of migratory birds, the breaking of buds, the spawning of frogs and the falling of autumn leaves, writes Dick Warner

It’s an important tool for measuring climate change over long periods of time. For example, there are accurate records for the timing of grape harvests in continental Europe that go back without a break for more than 500 years, much further back than instrument recordings and provides invaluable information to compare with modern data.

But Klaus Laitenberger is developing a phenological calendar to help Irish gardeners. Klaus is an expert organic gardener who lives at Milkwood Farm in Co Leitrim where, amongst other things, he has an online seed shop, runs courses on gardening, writes books, and produces an online magazine about growing organic fruit and vegetables.