On Sunday, March 22, 2026, I planted sunflower and wildflower seeds. It’s been a fairly warm winter in Flagstaff, with an especially warm March. I should have taken a hint when I visited the local plant nursery and found the shelves nearly bare—she mentioned it was still very early, though a shipment was expected this week.

I went ahead and watered the seeds and have continued to do so. Then, at my Tai Chi class, I learned that frost warnings here can last until June 4. I guess I got ahead of myself. I still have some seeds left, so we’ll see what happens.

The daffodils I planted came up two weeks ago, but it makes me wonder—could nature itself be thrown off by global warming and the overuse of fossil fuels?

Last fall, I also planted daffodils, butterfly bushes, and several types of milkweed, all of which I was told would survive the winter. Right now, they’re not looking very healthy. Maybe they’re reacting to Flagstaff’s unpredictable climate. I used to think Phoenix was hard—now I’m not so sure.