blackthorn hatcher

Can anyone tell me waht 'a blackthorn hatcher' is my old mother in law was allways saying in the spring its going to be a blackthorn hatche but when asked what it meant she dident know !!!

 

Perhaps related to the expression "Blackthorn Winter". The Blackthorn flowers in April-ish, and is perhaps seen as an indicator of the end of Winter ... so perhaps a Blackthorn Hatcher is a mild winter that will bring the Blackthorn flowers on sooner?

... although Blackthorn flowering early would only suggest to me that the weather before had been mild - not that the rest of the spring will follow suit!

but, just talking black-is-white for a moment!, if the winter has been mild then it is likely that sea temperatures have remained above normal (as they have this year), and the Jet Stream has been strong (as this year) which prevents a cold block moving in from the continent, and thus that may well mean that penetrating cold is unlikely in the Spring. Can still get freak frosts, even -5C, in May though ... and they do a huge amount of damage after a mild Winter as everything is so far ahead of its normal timings.

 

According to folklore, in bygone times, we're talking a long time ago, people used to rely on certain things happening in nature to tell them when to do stuff like sow the seeds for that year's crops etc.

The flowering of the blackthorn was the queue that spring is well on its way. But, sometimes it would trick you by flowering early, so you sow the seeds, it germinates, then lo and behold, along comes a second bout of winter destroying your crop.

 

Well the one I wont be doing is sticking my bare bum in the soil and if warm enough ready to plant seeds

 

Is that 'coz you are scared of the Blackthorn?

 

Thanks cluless this seems the most logical

 

No, worms