This was in line to be one of our warmest April’s ever and then came “Locust (or is that Blackberry??) Winter”
Bundle up if you have to be out late night… look at these lows:
But still not cold enough for frost!
So, the debate is on… Old Wive’s Tale has it that we have 4, maybe 5, so-called winters before we finally warm up to summerlike weather.
We did the Redbud Winter dip back around the 3rd week of March. This was a long cool snap and the Redbud trees had just started to bloom.
Then there was Dogwood Winter the 8th and 9th of April. The Redbuds were still in bloom but the Dogwood tree blooms had opened up by then.
The Locust trees were really in full bloom almost a week ago but they are still blooming (although fading) so I think we have to call this Locust Winter.
Here’s the rub: Blackberry bushes have just started blooming and in some areas in full bloom (all the warm weather) so is this really Blackberry Winter??
I mentioned the quandry on TV this afternoon and most of the old-timers who called in say Blackberry Winter shouldn’t come until May so this has to be Locust Winter. But there are a few who disagree.
What do you think??
AH!!! But….BECAUSE of the early warm weather, my blackberry vines are in FULL BLOOM, AND SOME TINY BERRIES ARE SHOWING already…..It would seem to me this WOULD be Blackberry Winter because of that…I think the early warmth is playing havoc with (not only the computer models), but the Old Wive’s Tales too!!
There, I said it…I meant it…and I’d say it again…
Who’s to say we can’t have both at the same time :). That way we can go ahead and get them over with!
Whata bout Cotton Britches Winter?
remember April showers bring May flowers
Everything is 2 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule this year in the flower dept. Usually Blackberries flower during first week of May. But also blooming at this time but usually is a May flower is the Peony, Dame’s Rocket,my roses and some types of Iris. Strawberries are being harvested in southern TN at this time and my blueberries have small both blooms and small berries. My late blooming (white cluster with red centers) narcissus were finish over a week ago.
I have tons of yard work and tons of plants to divide this year so the cool temps are welcome at this time.!
i think we should name this a new winter “servocrow winter” what do you all think??
lol
But if we go ahead and call is “Blackberry Winter” that means we skipped “Locust Winter” and that just seems so unfair! Now, I can fix this problem by planning an ice cream party for my oldest daughter’s 13th birthday in early May…. then I assure you we will have another cold snap and we can call that one “Blackberry”!
Oh, yes, we must remember “Cotton Britches”!
Hahahahahahahahaha, Mark!!!!!
Hey, how about if we have another cold snap in May we call it “What-the-Heck-is-Happening-this-Year” Winter…”Try-and-Forecast-This-One” Winter…or…’sigh’…I need some coffee..
I like Cotton Britches, though…never heard that one…but like it…
Here it is, I FOUND IT!! It’s a “Monty Python” Winter!!
“A year passed. Winter changed into Spring. Spring changed into Summer. Summer changed back into Winter. And Winter gave Spring and Summer a miss and went straight on into Autumn.”
-excerpt from MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL