Humans aren't the only ones who seem confused by this unusually warm December weather.
This unusually warm December is not only messing up humans who are trying to figure out their winter wardrobe selections. It's also wreaking havoc on some plants and trees, confusing them into thinking spring has arrived.
That's what gardening experts are saying amid the wave of record-breaking warmth that has enveloped New Jersey and other eastern states the past few weeks. Although the weather will be cooling off this weekend, the mercury is expected to climb back up into the spring-like 60s by Christmas Day.
For David Williams, the biggest indication that nature seems out of whack this month was something he spotted while driving on the winding roads in the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield. "I saw about a dozen cherry trees in full bloom," he said.
This purple pansy on an outdoor deck in Edison is still flowering nicely, even though it's late December. (Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Normally, those same cherry trees don't bloom until early spring, said Williams, a fourth-generation co-owner of Williams Nursery on Springfield Avenue in Westfield.
Some types of perennial flowers and shrubs are also blooming far earlier than they should be, Williams and other nursery owners said.
"I've noticed some stuff has started to bloom where normally it wouldn't bloom until late winter," said Bob Amberg, owner of Amberg Perennial Farms in Scotch Plains. "I have a winter honeysuckle at home that's started to bloom," something it typically would do in January or February.
Another type of winter plant that's been blooming early is the hellebore, better known as the Christmas rose. "They normally flower in February or March, but those are in full bloom now," said Williams.
Pegi Ballister-Howells, a New Jersey gardening expert who hosts "The Garden Show" on WCTC radio in New Brunswick, said the recent warm streak could mess up the normal growth and dormancy phase of some trees and flowers, but a lot depends on how much -- and how fast -- the weather fluctuates.
"It's going to have some distinct disadvantages, and it's going to have some advantages," Ballister-Howells said of the warm weather pattern. "If it gets cold gradually, plants will adapt more effectively. If it suddenly plummets to 25 degrees, that would cause more damage."
ALSO: A snowless December? How rare would that be?
Weather forecasters are expecting temperatures to dip to near-normal readings -- in the 30s and low 40s -- this weekend. But after that, temperatures are going to soar back into the 60s, about 20 degrees above normal for late December in New Jersey.
If it remains warm for a long time, some fruit trees, particularly apple trees, could be impacted because they need a certain number of cold days in order for their fruit to grow during their next regular production cycle, Ballister-Howells said.
NO NEED TO PANIC
Home gardeners should not be worried if they notice some of their bulbs popping up in December, Ballister-Howells said. It's something that happens every year, but often doesn't get noticed. Most likely, some flower buds that are in the bulbs are still far enough down in the ground and have not yet emerged, so those should pop up in the spring (the real spring).
Some other good news about the December warm spell: New Jersey homeowners might see their lawns looking nice and thick this spring because the roots have had more time to develop before the first big freeze sets in, several garden experts said.
In a worse-case scenario, if you end up with a lot of damaged plants this winter because of wild temperature swings, Ballister-Howells sees this as a good opportunity to spruce up your garden.
"It just opens up a new spot to plant something new," she said.
MORE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
While you might think the balmy weather would knock down the holiday spirit, some New Jersey garden centers said they've seen an increase in sales of Christmas trees, wreaths and other holiday accessories this month.
"The weather is nice and everyone wants to get out," said Marie Aimone, an employee at Coppola Garden Center in South Plainfield.
"They're just busy buying Christmas wreaths and trees," Aimone said earlier this week, when temperatures were in the 60s. "People are lingering to look at a tree. They're not shivering" and leaving quickly, like they would normally do on a very cold day.
Amberg, whose garden center in Scotch Plains opened in the 1960s, noticed a similar trend of customers doing more decorating this year.
"I have more people decorating pots, adding greens to their flower pots," he said.
The warm December has also been welcome news for landscapers. Both Amberg and Williams said more landscapers have been able to finish their fall projects because of the warm days, instead of getting delayed by cold and snowy weather.
As for that cold stuff, New Jersey is on track to see its eighth snowless December since 1895.
All the more reason to go outside and do some yard work or gardening.
"We might as well enjoy it," Ballister-Howells said, "while it lasts."
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.