On 8/2/08 18:35, in article
, "Dave
Poole" wrote:

I've watched hawthorn leaves start to expand around here over the past
few days and the hazels are ever further forward. Everywhere, Prunus
cerasifera 'Purpurea' is in full flower creating great clouds of pale
lilac pink and the Magnolias are pushing their protective bracts off
as their flower buds swell. I'll not tempt providence by claiming
spring has arrived here, but it does seem that both native and exotic
plants are convinced. 3 weeks ago, blackbirds were sparring on the
marshes close to work and just yesterday a pair of goldcrests were
being ever-so-slightly amorous irrespective of my presence barely 4
yards away.


Yes, the birds round here are definitely getting a glint in their eye! The
rooks have been making a lot of noise and have been squabbling in their
pre-nesting fashion but we think that might be because the poor things are 3
trees short this year and are making earlier claims to space than usual.
There's a bank of hawthorn on the way up to Holne which is always the first
to come out near here. We'll have to try a drive up there tomorrow. But
today we have thick fog and I can barely see beyond the hedge at the end of
the nursery path.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'