Saturday 11th sees the sun rise to 35 degrees above the horizon at its meridian (in the S of England at least). That is what I use to judge the start of spring. Real power in the sun.

Saturday 11th sees the sun rise to 35 degrees above the horizon at its meridian (in the S of England at least). That is what I use to judge the start of spring. Real power in the sun.

Certainly effective enough to make it 28 C in my famed west-facing hobby room this afternoon, even with a window open and heating off. Although I do have jacket potatoes baking away and the heat from the oven is enough to heat the entire house up.

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Saturday 11th sees the sun rise to 35 degrees above the horizon at its meridian (in the S of England at least). That is what I use to judge the start of spring. Real power in the sun.

Max angle of sun = (90-L) + 23 -0.26D approximately where L = latitude and D is number of days before summer solstice (back to winter solstice). Does this work? I did it myself. Suggests at 21 June sun would be at 62 degrees at 51 N.

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Max angle of sun = (90-L) + 23 -0.26D approximately where L = latitude and D is number of days before summer solstice (back to winter solstice). Does this work? I did it myself. Suggests at 21 June sun would be at 62 degrees at 51 N.

http://www.suncalc.org/#/34.1618,-1.582,3/2017.03.09/19:05/1/0

There are plenty more similar calculators available online if you do a google search 

 

http://www.suncalc.org/#/34.1618,-1.582,3/2017.03.09/19:05/1/0

There are plenty more similar calculators available online if you do a google search 

http://www.suncalc.org/#/50.6251,-1.7578,3/2017.06.21/13:06/1/0

Yes, a good site, confirming my formula- 62 degrees in June. Just got to read your pre-edited bit before it went.

 

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First violets seen 7/3/17 near Petworth, W Sussex

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Most magnolia trees are starting to flowering now - saw one that was in full bloom on Sunday 🙃

Daffs coming out here now and millions of crocii across the city. Nothing else yet, still too chilly and not much sun!

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Getting to be quite hot in my famed west-facing hobby room as the afternoon sun swings around more to the front of my house.

Yes, I did get out of the house today, went for a little stroll around the town so today didn't go to waste.  

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Proper Spring stuff happening today: tweeting birds everywhere, wood pigeons doing their paw-paaw-paaw-paw-paw, blossoms out everywhere and grass looking lush and deep green. Floral smells in the air too, and everyone eating and drinking on the pavements.

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Getting to be quite hot in my famed west-facing hobby room 

What goes on in the hobby room, stays in the hobby room.

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Because of the very mild second half of February and first half of March we've had this year, spring seems a few weeks more advanced this year, in this area. Everything is about where you would expect it to be in about early April. Some trees are already starting to open, and some of the flowers in the garden are coming up earlier than usual.

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Typical Spring weather here this week. Very windy each day, some sun and some rain. Plenty of snow in the Highlands today and tonight. Expecting to see the Pentlands a bit white by morning.

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Spotted my first bee of the season buzzing around the lavender.

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Horse chestnut and hazel leaves opening

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First (solitary) bluebell on 21 March, on Sussex/Hants border near the Uppark (NT) estate

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Tuesday 28th - ash trees in flower on the Sussex/Surrey border, no sign of life on nearby oaks.

So we shall have a soak?

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Tuesday 28th - ash trees in flower on the Sussex/Surrey border, no sign of life on nearby oaks.

So we shall have a soak?

I thought the splash/soak proverb was to do with leaves rather than flowers. What are the leaves doing on your ash? Here, many trees are leafing, but not the oaks. Usually at this time of year, the horse-chestnuts are just following the hawthorn (always first here) and some early willow. But plum, beech, hazel, birch, blackthorn and even maple are pushing forth young leaves.

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I thought the splash/soak proverb was to do with leaves rather than flowers. What are the leaves doing on your ash? Here, many trees are leafing, but not the oaks. Usually at this time of year, the horse-chestnuts are just following the hawthorn (always first here) and some early willow. But plum, beech, hazel, birch, blackthorn and even maple are pushing forth young leaves.

First haze of  green  on some of  the oaks hear - quite a  difference on advancement thought,  even on adjacent trees.

My mulberry tree is  still stubbornly  in winter mode -  not surprising, it's always the last to show life.  On occasion I have  had to make a closer inspection to check it has not died.

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