Wildflower Walkout

By Richard Bond

Richard Bond's been earwigging in the Other Lab again and the flowers are restless.

“Climate change is causing wild mountain flowers to move to higher altitudes...Plants monitored in the Italian Alps have climbed 430m in the past 48 years”
From ‘Minicosm’, Metro, August 2007

Right, that’s it, I’m off, I’ve had enough of this.
What?
It’s too hot! I’m a delicate alpine flower, me, not some spiny old cactus. I need cool air, a chill wind, the odd bit of snow now and again, you know.
‘Spose so. So where are you off to then?
I’m moving up in the world, mate. Literally, moving up the mountain, somewhere higher, where there’s a nip in the air.
That’ll be nice.
Why don’t you join me?
I can’t.
Why not?
I’m rather attached to this place. I know it’s on the warm side these days, and then there are all these newcomers, these valley species, but they’re OK on the whole, bit pushy perhaps, but I like it here.
What are you, some sort of wimp?
No, Edelweiss.
Edelweiss?
Yes.
Ah, one of the sunflower family!
Exactly.
I suppose that’s fair enough then. Well, I’m off anyway.
How?
What?
How are you going to move to a higher altitude? I hate to mention it, but you are a flower after all. Not known for their mobility, flowers.
Oh, yes, of course. I knew there would be a snag.
Never mind.
Hang on a minute – how did all these valley types get here then?
Isn’t it obvious?
Isn’t what obvious?