The Yellow Shoots of Spring

[SAHop]

Is it my imagination or is this Spring rather more yellow and brown than green?

Yellow lichen which I first noticed on elderflower bushes is now prolific on the hedges, trees, roofs and walls. The connifers are yellow or brown and bare of needles. Box hedging and privet are leafless. Even some of my bulbs coming up in the garden look withered at the tips of the leaves. And now I notice some of the farmland is bright yellow like rape in the summer.

And then there's the small concern that so many trees have died! Many of the willows along the river Nene have rotted and fallen into the water. Poplars, beech and oaks have black or rust coloured sap oozing from cankers on the bark and the trunks are breaking and branches falling off.

Most of this was happening towards the end of last summer and I am convinced is nothing to do with the harsh winter. Does anyone know what's going on?eek:

[SAHop]

Just a few pictures - you can see I am no photographer but have tried to capture something of the devastation I see around me as I walk along the River Nene...