To recap March and April weather wasn't the best delaying many flowering plants although beech (fagus sylvatica) flushed early. Then May reverted to above average warmth, or as the Met office put it:
"The persistent sun and warmth meant that this was the highest average maximum temperature on record for May."
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| https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/anomacts |
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| https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/anomacts |
The record (UK) warmth accelerated spring and overhead skies were mostly clear with just the odd band of heavy rain or thundery showers. The insects were especially tiresome with midges and mosquitoes out in biblical numbers in the shade and shelter of the woods. In oakwoods bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) emerged just as bluebell carpets came into flower. Suffice to say that this was not a vintage spring for my photography. Still there was a trip revisiting the
Graian Alps to offset the despair.
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| Graian Alps ~ June 2018 |
