Early Spring (or not)

[pressld2]

I agree with Dan. Here in Kent we seem to have gone from Autumn into Spring and skipped Winter completely.

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

daffs have been out for absolutely weeks...even months.

This photo was taken on 17 February in Lessness Abbey Woods...



And it wasn't an isolated clump - they were everywhere! I may call into Northward Hill this weekend and see if there are any bluebells out - wouldn't surprise me in the least!

Dan also mentioned lesser celandine and this one was taken on the River Cray near Hall Place, Bexley on 9 March (not 9 May, which is what I entered in the photo details when uploading )...



Dave P.

P.s. the leaves in the second lesser celandine picture are stinging nettles that the flowers are growing through.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

That was me !

Everything down here in the hot sunny south seesm to be earlier...( as it does every year).

Snowdrops are nearly over....daffs have been out for absolutely weeks...even months.

have chiff chaff daily, woodpeckers been drumming for weeks and using my feeders...cuckoo im 98% sure i heard...a week or two back. Comfrey is everywhere and in flower as is:

Lesser celendine
Dog violets
White dead nettle
primroses (which never really stopped flowering all year)
cuckoo flower

garden wallflowers and grape hyacinths

lords and ladies ( cuckoo pint) in full leaf

so looking from my window...spring is definately here.

True. It's all happening but about a fortnight behind the same events as last year- which were about a month early! So we're about a fortnight fast...if you see what I mean! Confused?

[Poirot]

Originally Posted by jennyb

Spring is definitely earlier here this year. I had daffodils out in December. The snowdrops are long gone, the primroses are almost finished and the rest of the daffodils are past their best. I even have bluebells out in the woods.

The problem is that the plants think it is spring but the weather doesn't yet realise that it is supposed to be springlike!

Jenny

Wow bluebells out already, in Staffordshire the leaves/shoots are coming up but there is no sign at all of the main flower shoot. Our daffodills only startedfully flowing about a fortnight ago and are now reaching their full bloom.

I never would have imagined that spring could be so different across such a small distance.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by jennyb

Spring is definitely earlier here this year. I had daffodils out in December. The snowdrops are long gone, the primroses are almost finished and the rest of the daffodils are past their best. I even have bluebells out in the woods.
The problem is that the plants think it is spring but the weather doesn't yet realise that it is supposed to be springlike!
Jenny

It's funny, despite being just a few miles from you, Jenny, it's a bit different around here. In my garden and local park snowdrops are still in flower. Some primroses and daffs are going over but there are plenty of buds still to come out.
And there are a handful of bluebell bids but non in flower yet! Must be down to micro-climates in the gardens and parks

[Cheryl]

I've seen Blackthorn in flower and today when walking along the canal saw ground ivy, wood anemone, celendines, dog violets and loads of primroses - the bluebells are coming through but no flowers yet.

[pressld2]

This was at Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, near Canterbury, today...



Dave P.

[JonSadler]

I think early: Bluebells, Anemones, Blackthorn are blooming in Birmingham. The Celandine have been flowering for weeks.

See this site for more info on phenology:

nature's calendar > record

Spring appears to be getting progressively earlier.

Regards

Jon

A Wildlife Diary from my Local Patch

[Cheryl]

Not sure whether it's early or not or if I've just not been very observant but I saw my first Brimstone Butterfly of the season this morning.

[Poirot]

Today was the first day i have noticed the birdsong it seems to be becoming more exsessive.

Poirot

[Cheryl]

Poirot - you are obviously a heavy sleeper - lucky you!! I noticed an increase in the dawn chorus a good few weeks ago. I love it really Just not EVERY morning "LOL"