CLIMATE change is on everyone’s lips and those possibly affected most are farmers, horticulturists (especially commercial food producers) and gardeners.

Dr Johanna Speirs is an atmospheric scientist with Snowy Hydro and says understanding the weather in the region helps the company manage the Snowy Hydro Scheme’s water resources.

Its research partner is the University of Queensland, which works on trends that deliver precipitation to the Snowy Mountains.

The research looks at pre-history, utilising paleoclimate from the Yarrangobilly Caves in the mountains. By analysing stalagmite samples, researchers are able to reconstruct temperature and snow cover at Cabramurra over the last 1000 years. The reconstructed climate records are showing patterns consistent with current global trends.

The stalagmites have recorded rapid warming and reduced snow cover since about 1960. This is similar to trends elsewhere in Australia.

This year we have already seen record temperatures in Sydney and the same is predicted for Canberra.

Good snowfall and the resulting melt is extremely important. Water from the Snowy Mountains is vital to the large agricultural areas of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area at Griffith and poor snowfalls could spell a massive disaster if the rivers dried up.

CHRISTMAS is close and with the rush on for last-minute presents, it’s worth remembering your local garden centre. These days they not only sell plants but have a variety of gifts, often costing considerably less than the big shopping centres.

THERE’S nothing worse than being woken from a Sunday morning sleep-in by the sound of neighbourhood mowers or blower/vacs. Or enjoying a quiet drink with friends in the cool of the evening when the neighbour’s machines roar into life!

Interestingly, in parts of London, Hampstead Gardens for example, authorities now drop warnings to noisy neighbours into the letterbox; a yellow card or red card for repeat offenders. What a great idea!

Jottings…

• Cut old leaves off polyanthus hit by snails. The new leaves are most probably already appearing.
• Plant lettuce, English spinach, chives and other culinary herbs amongst the flowers and shrubs. They provide added greenery and do not need to take up space in the veggie garden.
• Give your gardening friends a copy of  “The Canberra Gardener” for Christmas, written especially for Canberra. Available from most bookshops.
• Electric mowers now account for 75 per cent of sales in the UK.