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The season formerly known as 'Winter'
by Oregano @ 2007-01-13 - 16:52:44

With climate change we are already used to mild winters. I suppose we never had much of a winter in central southern England but in my childhood I recall that there was usually about two weeks of the year with snow and frosts from October to March. We now seem to have a dark, wet, windy season with unhealthily mild temperatures. It seems to be around 10 Celsius each midday rather than the average of 2 degrees. Germs seem to be multiplying like crazy.

I wonder if we should rename the fourth season. How about following the trees and going for Spring, Leaf, Fall and Bare?

With the wet weather I have not bothered to look around my garden for a few weeks. Today I got a surprise when I looked at my herb garden.

 chives january 13

Yes, the chives are well and truly up. In fact with 10 cm growth they could even be harvested! Normally they are a millimetre above the ground if visible at all in mid January.

 wild garlic shoots

What was even more surprising was that the wild garlic was a centimetre above ground. Again this seems weeks too early. Maybe we have lost the fourth season altogether and are slipping slowly from Autumn or Fall to Spring.

Another big suprise was last night when a little ladybird wandered over our dining table. Springwatch look out!

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GilraenHGilraenH pro
http://www.gilraen.blog.co.uk
2007-01-13 @ 16:59

I hope so, I'm done with winter.

deleted user [Visitor]

2007-01-13 @ 18:23

That's a bit frightening really. We haven't really had a winter this year, just storms.

[Visitor]
http://bloggitygoodness.blog.ca
2007-01-13 @ 20:54

I found some hyacinth and crocus stems peaking outta the ground.

hintzeyanghintzeyang pro
2007-01-13 @ 21:52

A very good post, clear explanation on previous experience and proof shown as well...

I was particularly surprise that winter here has just gone for this year without any thing really cold... for example, I only scratch for ice on my cold for just once in December. After that, the winter is just a mild winter...needless to say white christmas :(

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OreganoOregano pro
http://outdoors.blog.co.uk
2007-01-14 @ 01:47

Hintzehang,

The UK has had very different winters in my lifetime. I think it was 1981-1982 when I lived in Glasgow and it was -20 Celsius for about a month. Basically the mains water supply worked at about 50% pressure then due to ice reducing the water supply bore size. But we had very few colds despite the inconvenience.

This 'winter' I have been congested for more than 4 weeks and still have not got rid of my cough. I wish it was cold enough to kill the germs! Yuck!!

Oregano

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hintzeyanghintzeyang pro
2007-01-14 @ 10:48

Thanks Oregano.

I like the idea of having a very cold winter to some extend that can kill all the virus, gems in our surrounding...

Looking forward to next winter

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OreganoOregano pro
http://outdoors.blog.co.uk
2007-01-14 @ 16:02

I am on my way to Finland. Last time I was there I was told that below a certain temperature the bacteria don't survive. I have heard the same about very dry conditions in the desert.

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BellydancerBellydancer pro
2007-01-16 @ 23:53

So true, this! On Christmas Day, we have admired the blossoming bushes in my newphew`s garden. In December the hedgehogs woke up from hibernation and will probably die if it started to freeze suddenly now.

Where will all this end?

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OreganoOregano pro
http://outdoors.blog.co.uk
2007-01-17 @ 00:35

I have no idea! I'm just an engineer not a climate scientist...so have no idea where this will end. There have been clearly long term variations in our climate - in Roman times viticulture was widespread in England and sea levels higher - but there is an alarming correlation between CO2 emissions and shrinking glaciers, etc.

We all need to do our bit to save energy, recycle more and reuse more... while putting pressure on our politicians to improve regulation.

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BellydancerBellydancer pro
2007-01-17 @ 00:40

Politicians? The guy who declared that he will not be prepared to give up long haul holiday flights in favour of our planet? That`s not very promising, but I do think that, if everyone does just that little bit, we could all make a difference.

First of all, I would suggest to make public transport more attractive, recycling compulsory and stop making any electrical items with a standby function...

The biggest culprit, however, is the industry, and I am afraid that they are reluctant to implement more environment-friendly policies...

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OreganoOregano pro
http://outdoors.blog.co.uk
2007-01-17 @ 01:08

Agreed!

I wish I knew how to influence the British political establishment!

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BellydancerBellydancer pro
2007-01-17 @ 01:22

There may be a post vacant after the next elections...

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kiki2ukiki2u [Member]
http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
2007-01-21 @ 13:26

That's it, around here we already say that we're having only 2 seasons!
A long Summer, but very hot, and a short Winter..but now,we're having since a good while a beautiful Spring time around here insted of Winter days! Are gone..the real ones!They say we'l have very cold days yet,this next week ( i'l see! ) , with hot temperarures immediatly after it! The truth is that we're having beautiful sunny days every week, and warm temperatures . We only got real cold by last Xmas time, but were very few days, and rainny ones we got few in November and others few ones in October!
Have a happy Sunday Oregano,
kk

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