Blackthorn starting to flower - Cold snap coming?

[Geoff F]

Today I noticed some Blackthorn bushes were just starting to flower. Snapes Point, Salcombe Harbour, S. Devon close to the sea. Local tradition is that we will have a touch of cold and unsettled weather with strong easterly winds now; known in this area as the Blackthorn Winter.

Obviously blackthorn can't affect the weather and I don't see how it can predict future weather. I can only assume that it is just coincidence - every year! But, I did know somebody who would try to shake off the blackthorn flowers at the bottom of his garden in the hope that the weather would improve then.

Anybody have similar experiences elsewhere?

[tufftie]

Yeah - I know that saying and it does seem to hold true ?! It must somehow pick up on weather conditions but...? So who doesn't believe in plant magic then?!

[Kayleigh]

I don't know about blackthorn winters but if plants berry early or heavy its supposed to be a cold and hard winter to follow..

[naturelover]

i know that one kayleigh,its to help wildlife when the ground is frozen,makes sence when you think about it.

[tufftie]

Well just looked at the forecast and I don't know about cold but it's going to be very wet until after the weekend.

I've heard of that one too Kayleigh but it seems to work the other way round - here anyway - but it would make sense as Naturelover says

[James M]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I don't know about blackthorn winters but if plants berry early or heavy its supposed to be a cold and hard winter to follow..

Well that one has been proven to not hold true because in some recent years when there has been a good crop of berries it's been a mild winter, it's more to do with conditions previous really.

[James M]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Today I noticed some Blackthorn bushes were just starting to flower. Snapes Point, Salcombe Harbour, S. Devon close to the sea. Local tradition is that we will have a touch of cold and unsettled weather with strong easterly winds now; known in this area as the Blackthorn Winter.

Obviously blackthorn can't affect the weather and I don't see how it can predict future weather. I can only assume that it is just coincidence - every year! But, I did know somebody who would try to shake off the blackthorn flowers at the bottom of his garden in the hope that the weather would improve then.

Anybody have similar experiences elsewhere?

Coincidently (or not?) many weather models have been showing cold N or NE'erly winds for the easter period for about a week now, things could still change though.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Today I noticed some Blackthorn bushes were just starting to flower. Snapes Point, Salcombe Harbour, S. Devon close to the sea. Local tradition is that we will have a touch of cold and unsettled weather with strong easterly winds now; known in this area as the Blackthorn Winter.

Obviously blackthorn can't affect the weather and I don't see how it can predict future weather. I can only assume that it is just coincidence - every year! But, I did know somebody who would try to shake off the blackthorn flowers at the bottom of his garden in the hope that the weather would improve then.

Anybody have similar experiences elsewhere?

Don't underestimate the intellegence of trees is all i can say. Having read the secret lives of trees-Colin Tudge, you will be amazed at just the kind of things trees do.

Good story. I've never heard of Blackthorn Winter before-must have it's name for a reason! I hope people have others.

[AndyC]

I have no idea how it works but the Blackthorne Winter is infallible in Somerset/Dorset/Devon. Once it is well in bloom we get a week or so of cold weather. I've noticed in recent years (or maybe I just never noticed in the past) that some of the smaller bushes flower early (two/three weeks ago along the A303 in Somerset) but there is no obvious cold snap with them.


Andy