Lots of berries - hard winter coming?

[rustylady]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but I've noticed lots and lots of berries round here. The orange pyracantha in the back garden is loaded and the blackbirds are already taking advantage. Holly bushes and trees round here also loads of big red shiny berries. Anyone have any proof or ideas as to whether the old saying is true?

[grannymem]

I can't help thinking that the wonderful berries are the result of the right growing conditions this year for them - I still find it hard to believe they are ahead of us in knowing what the winter weather is going to be or - even if they do know - deciding what they're going to do about it...

Has anyone got good ideas about what I can do about keeping my wonderful holly berries - they're stunning at the moment but don't think they'll be there in November let alone for Christmas (and they do this every year - whether we have a harsh winter or an extremely mild one!)?

[snuffer]

Have to agree with grannymem. Lots of fruit must be a result of good conditions this year. Although it would be nice to believe, I don't really think our hedgerows can predict the future. It does provide a nice bonus for the wildlife though and looks good into the bargain.

[Alison]

Erm, what old saying?

[organic]

It's an old-wives' weather forecast...
...a heavy crop of berries is meant to be nature providing extra food to get things through a particularly hard winter...
...so lots of berries means harsh winter coming and fewer means a milder one.

[Alison]

Ah, never heard that one but am not convinced for the reasons already given above.

[SarzWix]

Last year lots of the hedgerow fruits were very scarce round here, especially the sloes. That was followed by a very cold winter, lots of freezing weather and down to minus 10 at times. So it doesn't seem to be true, I don't think. Glad to see plenty of berries this year though

[organic]

Someone on another forum I used mentioned some sort of horse they own. If the coat is long and thick it'll be a cold winter, if it's just long then less so.
"Never failed yet."

It's possible there is something in the air we can't pick up on but animals and plants can... I certainly won't write it off... though I too am not really convinced by the berries one either I will keep an open mind because a few things, on a folk level at least, seem to have something to them.


EDIT
I didn't mean that first paragraph to sound like I was saying it - I was paraphrasing their words. I'm still in the "hmm... I dunno, but I can't see it." camp.

[FionaH]

Someone on another forum I used mentioned some sort of horse they own. If the coat is long and thick it'll be a cold winter, if it's just long then less so.
"Never failed yet."


EDIT
I didn't mean that first paragraph to sound like I was saying it - I was paraphrasing their words. I'm still in the "hmm... I dunno, but I can't see it." camp.

Again, nice thought but as far as I am aware horses grow their coats according to daylight hours not temp. I am willing to be corrected though

[organic]

You couldn't see it, but I shrugged my shoulders.

[FionaH]

You couldn't see it, but I shrugged my shoulders.

That made me smile I was just being a smart a**e

[organic]

Nowt wrong with that

I'm just shrugging because I know (compared to horsey types) pretty much naff all about the things. Your avatar seems to suggest you're far more likely to know about them than I do.

As far as I know they could grow their hair longer for the must-have chic style for this season. Yours sounds more reasonable though!

[Two_Sheds]

Anyone have any proof or ideas as to whether the old saying is true?

If the coat is long and thick it'll be a cold winter

"If in summer the grass grows long then come the autumn the winds will be strong."

"A green December fills the graveyard"

There's a few more on here: BBC Online - BBC Midlands Today

[grannymem]

Oh dear - our graveyards must be very full - the grass grows here all year long - no putting away the mower for winter...

[bluemoon]

My mum has always been convinced that lots of berries equals a hard winter. I can't say I've ever noticed, and as there hasn't been a hard winter for almost thirty years I doubt it really means anything. There are simply huge crops of berries here though, the wood opposite Mum's was red long before the leaves turned because of the haws, Holly and Rowan berries and my autumn raspberries have gone mad. I think the theory is that nature 'knows' there's a bad time on the way so provides plenty of food for wildlife first.