February 11: The forests of Dadheldhura have turned red even in the dry winter season due to the early blossoming of Rhododendron flowers. The national flower of Nepal which used to bloom in mid-March in the past, was in full bloom in early February this season, according to a news report published by Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS).

The state-run news agency reported that the flowers blossomed early due to climate change. The forests have become lively and visitors have started flocking to the forests to observe the beauty, RSS said.

Experts say that the flower blooms only in the warn conditions prevalent during the months of March and April. They attributed the flowers blossoming in winter to  global warming.

RSS reported that most of the forest areas of Dadeldhura are in full bloom.

Laxman Sarki, a local of Ganyapdhura Rural Municipality-1 in Dadheldhura district told RSS that the national flower of Nepal used to bloom during March in the past.

“Due to global warming, we have noticed that the flower has started blooming in winter,” RSS quoted Sarki as saying.