The cheerful patch of yellow in this photo is an interesting example of how some plants react to warming winters.
Typically Sundancer Daisies in our demo garden look pretty crummy in the early spring. They are knocked back by winter but always manage to perk up and bloom again by late spring. They are an unusual perennial in that once flowering begins it keeps going all summer long–though a bit of deadheading helps.
Last year the Sundancers began to bloom as usual, but they never quit! There were at least a few flowers still visible throughout the fall and into December, January and February. The blooms increased through the spring and now the patch is in full flower. That is about 11 months of continuous blooming, something I have never seen before!
I wonder if they might tire out at some point–how long can they keep this up?