11th April – Spring Arrived

The British weather makes no allowance for Spring beginning at the equinox on 20^th March.  This year, on The Wirral Peninsula, it began on 11^th April so far as I’m concerned.  My test of Spring is the day on which one can set one’s foot on seven Daisies.   

I can’t recall who told me it was seven but that was definitely the number I have known for many years.  Upon checking it seems twelve was a more common number in the old calendars but perhaps Daisies were more common on those days.  As it happens I could just about have managed twelve and I do have small feet!

We can now plant our ‘foot upon nine daisies’ and not until that can be done do the old-fashioned country people believe that spring is really come.

    [1863 R. Chambers Book of Days i. 312]

    ‘It ain't spring until you can plant your foot upon twelve daisies,’ is a proverb still very prevalent.

    [1878 T. F. Thiselton-dyer English Folk-Lore i.]

    Spring is here when you can tread on nine daisies at once on the village green; so goes one of the country proverbs.

    [1910 Spectator 26 Mar. 499]

    When you can step on six daisies at once, summer has come.

    [1972 Casson & Grenfell Nanny Says 52]

The weather was truly Spring-like and I had a little walk down the Wirral Way at West Kirby.  On the lake the birds were enjoying the sunshine.

 

The coots were building a nest.

A Small Tortoiseshell was flitting about.  When I think how common they were in my youth I find it very sad that they are now worthy of remark.  We never get them in our garden.

 

On a happier note, I saw my first Bluebells in flower.