I had a general feeling that things were happening later this year than last. I decided to choose some of the photos that I took last year and to monitor the same plant areas etc. this year.
The trees and shrubs are really late to spring into action. I wonder whether the delayed spring means that there are few aphids and caterpillars around and it is this that is causing the great tits in the nest box to postpone nest building. Maybe they are waiting to ensure that there is a ready food supply with which to feed their young.
The daffodils on the plot are also much later. Usually they are starting to flower around Mothers' day and we are concerned they will disappear. This year they weren't even in bud on that occasion.
It would seem that spring had overslept so let's hope that this spell of fine whether has woken her.
It would seem that spring had overslept so let's hope that this spell of fine whether has woken her.
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It is a pretty late spring here too, but not 10 days. Llast year was a late spring too for us. I'm hoping it isn't a trend.
ReplyDeleteOnly 10 days for the frogs,Daphne. The plants seem further back.
DeleteThere's some huge differences there. It's certainly felt like spring these last few days, I hope it's here to stay now that it's arrived.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Jo. Things seem to have started to move over the last couple of days. At this rate the plum and apple blossom will be out at the same time. I hope it spurs on our great tits,
DeleteI think 2014 had the longest growing season I can ever remember - mid-February was warm and settled so the seeds and module grown plants took off really early to give mini-crops from the end of April (lettuce and beetroot) and continued until early December when I was pulling finger-sized carrots sown in early September. I'm pretty sure this sort of growing year doesn't come around too often, things here are already much later than last year just like in your garden.
ReplyDeleteAugust spoiled last year in our area SandD. I don't think I can remember the plum blossom being as late as this year,
DeleteI really enjoy seeing photos of the same area from one year to the next and examining the differences. Our spring last year was quite late - almost one month - so this year things are actually feeling much more normal (comparatively speaking). The only problem is that our temperatures are supposed to stay low (instead of increasing) as the month progresses...which will mean we are going to be once again, below seasonal. I'm hoping the weatherman is wrong on that one.
ReplyDeleteWe have had three lovely days here Margaret and things are starting to grow quicker, We have been busy catching up at the plot. I hope it isn't just a blip
DeleteMy goodness those are like chalk and cheese! We are well behind this year then. I wonder if it is across the country, or just in your area. I write for fun and am not a serious keeper of records, but you are now making me think maybe I should.
ReplyDeleteMartyn is the serious record keeper Deb. I just looked through last years photos and took similar ones this year. From the comments it isn't just us and not just the UK
DeleteI was comparing my first Asparagus harvesting dates and I found that we are about 10 days behind. Last year I harvested my first Asparagus on 7th April, but this year the first spear has only just poked its nose up.
ReplyDeleteI guess this lovely weather will speed things up now Mark
DeleteIt's good to read about and see your comparisons Sue which have confirmed my suspicions. Hopefully the last couple of days will have jump started spring.
ReplyDeleteThings do appear ti be on the move now, Anna
DeleteWhat a fabulous comparison. Well done to you for being so organised year on year. I'm rather glad things are later - the last couple of weeks have been a bit hectic and I feel I've got behind on seed sowing.
ReplyDeleteWE are okaying catch up on the plot Jayne but the soil is still a bit wet in places.
DeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteWe could actually be on different planets. This year just about all the snow is melted and last year at the same date there were 3 FEET of snow over the garden.
It's a strange world, Alain, Daphne in the US us experiencing a late spring too
DeleteThe comparisons are really interesting: somehow a photo makes it seem so much more real than just notes in a notebook:)
ReplyDeleteA photo us worth a thousand words, sweffling
DeleteThat's very big difference! Look at the frogs! They are so big!
ReplyDeleteThey are all sorts of sizes Malar
DeleteIt's good to see your pics and compare the years. I was thinking the same, our cherry trees are much later this year as are most of the shrubs and the hedgerows are certainly lagging behind.xxx
ReplyDeleteMaybe things will speed up now Dina
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