Signs of spring

[green fingers]

Many people see signs of spring in the flowers and trees or birds nesting. I have three very special ways of knowing spring has truely sprung.

I live on the Romney Marsh in Kent and we have our very own breed of frog here. They were introduced in 1935 from France. They escaped from a pond and now colonise the drainage Dykes that suround the farmland. These frogs have a very distinct call. During the spring we hear them calling to each other all night long.

The second sign is the hedgehog, who hibernates in our garage, wakes up and starts to eat our cats food again.

Thirdly our Blackbird friend brings his wife into our garage to eat our cats food. He has been feeding from our garage for 3 years now, summer and winter. Last year he brought all his babies in as well.

These three things are a sure sign spring is really here to me. Do you have any strange ways of spotting the signs?

Wendy.

[Primrose]

My gooseberry bush always makes me sure that spring is here as already the little berries are forming.
Also the baby blackbirds - they land on the bird-table, the mother picks up the food and then gives it to them. Can't they try doing it for themselves - they are already bigger than she is

[grassy]

me.. i always base my calendar on my garden. . .flowers always tell me what season today is. . . i love them..

[runnerbean]

By the birds, tooing and frooing with leaves and twigs. By the early flowering clematis and the fuschia bursting into life from their long winter sleep.

[green fingers]

I forgot to mention the cuckoo who started singing again on Friday morning.

[makulay]

Originally Posted by grassy

me.. i always base my calendar on my garden. . .flowers always tell me what season today is. . . i love them..

me too. They're so adorable.
____________________
Tree service Mississippi

[Rosemary]

Maybe not spring but the sign to me that the garden is springing back to life is the dandelion that grows on the wall. Every year it comes back and manages to grow and flower in a tiny bit of mortar. I haven't the heart to pull it out.

[paul]

Kill all Dandilions !!!! They are WEEDS. They kill good plants !!1

[green fingers]

That's not strictly true Paul. Dandilion leaves can be grown to use in salads. In fact in Alan Titchmarshes book he recommends we grow them in a pot to eat.

Wendy.

[paul]

Hi Green Fingers,

Its Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Alan Titchmarshes fault that I have an allotment !!!! LoL

Is it true that the use dandilion in dandilion and burdock ??

[green fingers]

It sure is Paul.

Approx.2 pts.dandelion flowers,
One or two(depending on size burdock plants,well washed.
1 gallon water.
1 bag sugar.
2 or 3 lemons.

Trim stalks from dandelions(leave green sepals on for bitterness.)
Wash all well and chop burdock root,put into a fermenting bucket with a well fitting lid.
Pour boiling water over and leave for 24 hours.
Strain liquid through muslin into a clean bucket,take a quantity of the liquid and boil in a large pan,add sugar and stir 'til dissolved.
Return to bucket(should be blood-heat) and allow to cool.
Pour into strong,screw-topped bottles e.g. sterilised cider bottles and leave for 3-4 weeks.
Very mildly alcoholic and a refreshing summer drink.Not so alcoholic that children(especially boisterous ones!!) can't drink it.