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Masses of holly berries!

(14 Posts)
Witzend Thu 12-Nov-20 11:08:18

Has anyone else noticed this? On my usual circular walk, which includes some very countrified roads, although we’re in SW London, I’m sure I’m seeing far more than usual - there are lots of holly trees and hedges along the way.

I know there’s been a mega crop of acorns this year, too - has anything else been particularly fruitful?

OTOH my dd’s apple tree produced very few this year, but that might be because it’s almost certainly even older than the house (1929).

M0nica Thu 12-Nov-20 11:12:10

Yes, I have noticed the berrys, they are wonderful. We have also had a bad year for apples. This year, even my crab apple tree that for the last 20plus years has unfailingly provided me with crab apples for apple, herb and bramble jelly has let me down me with so few apples it wasn't worth cropping them.

travelsafar Thu 12-Nov-20 12:06:42

Wow i have just seen the same!!! I was going to create a post about it but you beat me to itsmile They look so beautiful in the hedgerows. I have seen lots of Snowberries too on one of my walks, rosehips and sloe berries as well. Maybe we are in for a hard winter as it use to be said they indicated one. We seemed to blessed with some lovely Autumnal sunshine while in lock down just like we were earlier in the year. It does compensate a little and encourages a daily walk.

Daddima Thu 12-Nov-20 14:07:14

Travelsafar my father always said lots of holly berries and rowans were signs of a hard winter to come.

MamaCaz Thu 12-Nov-20 14:14:03

I've noticed the large number of holly berries this year too, but they are disappearing quickly around here. I doubt there will be many left by Christmas.

It's been an incredible year for mushrooms and toadstools too - I don't remember ever seeing so many before!

Pantglas2 Thu 12-Nov-20 15:52:59

My dad says the same Daddima!

Puzzler61 Thu 12-Nov-20 15:55:53

Yes the holly berries are plentiful around my county.
Photo’s from a walk on Saturday.

Onthenaughtystep1 Thu 12-Nov-20 15:59:41

It doesn’t indicate a bad winter to come. It is the result of the wonderful spring/summer we had this year. Possibly related to global warming.

Juliet27 Sat 14-Nov-20 08:50:09

I agree that the amount of berries depends on the weather at the time of flowering/pollinating. I've noticed a good crop too but I'm surprised I still have so many berries on my Rowan. Normally the incoming migrant blackbirds and Redwings take them but I've not seen any so far this Autumn.

Greyduster Sat 14-Nov-20 09:24:46

There is a rather spectacular holly tree in the garden of a farmhouse we walk past that is covered this year, as it was last. Seen a few in the hedgerows but nothing spectacular. Lots of rowan berries though, and the blackbirds are scrapping over my pyracanthas. Disappointingly, no sloes though, or hazelnuts, which we were knee deep in last year. Plenty of crab apples though Monica.

Chardy Sun 15-Nov-20 18:36:05

On walks (south coast), I too have noticed more berries than usual - lots of acorns and beech nuts too

EllanVannin Sun 15-Nov-20 19:14:04

I hope they don't denote a hard winter, as there are plenty on the Rowan trees we have around and about.
Although there are plenty left on the trees would mean that they haven't been taken to store ? Unless of course it's a bit too soon yet.

lemongrove Sun 15-Nov-20 21:18:00

I haven’t been out much lately so haven’t noticed the holly berries, but we had a bumper crop of both eating apples and Bramleys this year.

WOODMOUSE49 Mon 16-Nov-20 01:07:11

So many berries here in Cornwall. I've been picking laiden branches for weeks now. Mixed with a few sedum heads, they look lovely.

Excellent year for sloes (sloe gin doing nicely). Cob nuts - loads. Acorns covering the ground on walk through the wood.
No bramble jelly this year though. Nothing worthwhile picking.