The message
from Emery Davis contains these words:

Do flowers count? The oaks here in Normandy are nowhere near bursting,
but have noticed an ash putting out those big black flowers.

Somehow it seems like a normal, wet summer would be a good thing.

-E

I think it refers to the appearance of the leaves.

Hoping that the dear old met office will forecast a wet summer this
year, so we can have a nice one!

Roger T