View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: Signs of Spring...? |
|
|
I know it's not even a month since Christmas, but to relieve the forecast economic gloom, and after what we were told was Blue Monday - statistically the day of the year we were most likely to feel grumpy - I thought I'd cast around for any signs that spring might be on its way.
Nothing much in the garden yet; the lawn is more like a paddy field after all the rain. Birds keep a respectful distance because of neighbours' cats.
The sun has shone today, and for the first time since November it has managed to peep over the houses opposite (which are higher than us) and bathe the lounge for a little while round midday.
The National Trust 2008 Yearbook and Spring Magazine thudded onto the doormat this morning. (Not exactly carbon footprint friendly, at 400 pages long, the yearbook has always been an invaluable guide, both for members and non-members, who can buy it at any bookshop. Only snag for the latter is that this year they have decided to omit the admission prices for all their sites!)
Clutching at straws, I know, but they'll do as indications that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Can anyone else report other signs? _________________ Ron |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mindda
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 37
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ron, dear - just to be friendly!
Snowdrops in the garden
japonica bursting into bloom
squirrels chasing each other up and down the plum tree
people working in the allotments at the bottom of the garden (mind you they've been doing that during the winter also)
central heating turned off for a few hours
Mindda |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 4088 Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We shipped a load of daffodil bulbs over to Spain with us. It's not an ideal climate for them, and out of more than a hundred bulbs only about thirty survived, and of that only 15 or so have managed to flower this year.
A Spanish friend came round today and on seeing the daffodil blooms in the garden, fell on her knees and started sniffing and stroking them. She said she had never seen anything like them before, and had never heard of the name.
You can't imagine it, can you - never having seen a daffodil. How exquisite they must look to the unaccustomed eye. For me, nothing has ever equalled the sight of banks of daffodils nodding in a brisk spring breeze. And nothing is more Spring-like.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 11258 Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Can't say I've noticed much, but then again, I wouldn't really know what to look for anyway apart from my trees starting to bud.
I'm pleased it's been dry here in Norfolk for a couple of days with hopefully more to come so I can work outside! I hate constant rain and so do my dogs
However, I did notice it was still reasonably light at about 5pm last night... _________________ Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! 13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Not dark at 5pm now--well, it's a start!
Ian. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tarahrah bomdiay
Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 260
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There are daffodils out here already |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Got some snowdrops out but that's all.
H _________________ 88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Briant
Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 964 Location: Liverpool England UK
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My grandchildren are blooming.......marvellous! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Spanners
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 169 Location: Lincolnshire
|
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
New love is blossoming for me. What better start to spring.
Spanners _________________ Useful for tightening nuts. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland
|
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
Splendid! I wish you all the best.
Ian. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Briant
Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 964 Location: Liverpool England UK
|
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
I hope you didn't go flying after drinking a few pints of those, Phil Jr! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Cherskiy
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3701 Location: near Amble, Northumberland
|
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Very few signs of spring when I was standing on Craig y Bwlch to the east of Dolgellau yesterday.... more like the middle of winter (oh, wait - it is January!) - it was bl**dy freezing, and the wind kept threatening to blow me off the rock ledge I was perched on. Could hardly keep the camera straight due to shivering....
The things I do for my hobby. _________________ Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
|
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Cherskiy wrote: | Very few signs of spring when I was standing on Craig y Bwlch to the east of Dolgellau yesterday.... more like the middle of winter (oh, wait - it is January!) - it was bl**dy freezing, and the wind kept threatening to blow me off the rock ledge I was perched on. Could hardly keep the camera straight due to shivering....
The things I do for my hobby. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I hope you didn't go flying after drinking a few pints of those, Phil Jr"
No I didn't Briant!!
Not a good day for photographing fast jets then Cherskiy! _________________ Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
|
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's amazing what a couple of half-decent days of weather (hereabouts, anyway) will do; it was much lighter later into the afternoon yesterday.
Closer inspection of the garden reveals the snowdrops and crocuses just about to come out. The squirrels are suddenly in playful mood, chasing through the trees rather than concentrating on digging up nuts and acorns that they buried in the autumn. I just wish they were red ones.
Lee - I should have known there'd be a beer! _________________ Ron |
|
Back to top |
|
|
iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland
|
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The weather has been far from half-decent here. We've had some of the worst gales for years.
Ian. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
|
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thought I'd bump this thread, since, once again, the new National Trust handbook and Spring Magazine thumped on to my doormat this morning.
There's scant few other signs of spring around here yet, can't even detect the snowdrops and crocuses on their way, and it's still dark at half past seven, as it is now as I write this at ten past four. The squirrels were getting frisky at the bottom of the garden though, but they might just have been trying to keep warm.
Any fledgling signs of spring to lighten the winter gloom where you are? _________________ Ron |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MadeinSurrey
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3130 Location: The Beautiful South
|
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We have the odd snowdrop pushing their way through, and there are still glimmers of light at 5pm, so yes, there is reason for optimism! _________________ MiS |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Toggy
Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239
|
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We had our handbook a couple of weeks ago, this was when it was still snowy
No other sign of spring, so grey and murky lately nothing wants to come out, I don't blame it! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
aviddiva
Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 1135 Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire
|
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:14 am Post subject: Signs of spring |
|
|
Snowdrops coming up, and unseasonal flurries of sleet and snow.
Easter eggs in the shops and hype for Valentine's Day in every magazine with the exception of Mojo, Classic Rock and Uncut, it seems. _________________ We are loonies and we are proud!
- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum' |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 4088 Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
|
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
I noticed our apple tree has some buds on the ends of the branches. And there seems to be fresh growth on the laurel hedge. _________________ Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Toggy
Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239
|
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We noticed the cats going mad over something about 10 minutes ago, it wasn't until Simba, one of our Bengals caught it we realised it was a wasp
Miracle it didn't sting him really but it seemed docile.
Very odd indeed, not what you expect in February! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|