Omen Season
By pgn
@pgntwo (22405)
Derry, Northern Ireland
March 30, 2016 11:41am CST
There's a saying that gets bandied about at this time of year, as people in this neck of the woods try to interpret the climatological signs all around them in order to forecast what sort of summer we might get:
Oak before ash, we'll have a splash;
Ash before oak, we're in for a soak.
With an ash in the thorn hedge at the back of the house, and an oak overshadowing the holly hedge at the front, you'd think we'd be in a prime spot on the summer weather predictions front.
At the moment, neither is showing any hint of green shoots. In fact, the hawthorn hedge is still bereft of green as well, and it's usually out before either ash or oak.
We shall watch carefully over the next couple of weeks, and see which shoots green first... But as this is Ireland, I'd guess the point will be moot, we get wet weather most summers. It has been said the Irish winter is better than the Irish summer, after all.
Keep an eye on the ash and the oak near you, if you can...
6 people like this
5 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
31 Mar 16
Could it be the weather that sent my ancestors from Ireland to the coast of Virginia?
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
1 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace Immigration is a hot topic in Europe presently, many displaced by war further East are moving West to avoid the bloodshed... It is so sad.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
1 Apr 16
@pgntwo This immigration stuff is really interesting. People are all up in arms now, but it is nothing new, or this country would still be fairly empty.
2 people like this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
5 Apr 16
No wonder the Irish are such drinkers ... so much beautiful country to see and so little time to see it between all those rain drops.
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
I wonder if anyone has ever actually tested this? It wouldn't be so hard to do after all. I have always forgotten up to now but last year the oak was out first and we had a lovely summer (though most people only remember that the later part of the summer was wet, they have forgotten the early part that was so hot is was too much to do anything!)
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
16 May 16
The definition of "splash" and "soak" are open to misinterpretation, y'see... Has anyone ever tested the St. Swithins Day saying? Or the theory about the 12days of Christmas representing the 12months of the year to come... Perhaps we could get a grant! 
1 person likes this
