Here in Maryland, you might have noticed our beautiful trees and flowers blooming early this winter. In fact, the region’s National Cherry Blossom Festival has been moved up to accommodate these early blooms. While the colorful flowers certainly brighten and beautify our communities, they also signify a darker reality. This unseasonably warm winter is just the latest development in a string of hot temperatures and extreme weather in the Chesapeake region — impacting all industries relying on our lands and waters. Some farmers, for instance, are acknowledging the challenge and stepping up to support solutions.
