SPRING IS HERE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2665, 3 September 1937, Page 5

SPRING IS HERE

LIFE REAWAKENING THE SIGNS AND PORTENTS WEATHER CONDITIONS IMPROVE The advent of spring has not gone unnoticed locally despite the stormy weather conditions over the week-end and during the past few days. Mild weather, sunny and warm for the most part in the day and not so cold at night as is usual for the time of the year, was experienced from about the middle of August, and with the highest temperature since last summer having been recorded on September 1, the calendar beginning of spring if not the climatic start, it augurs well for the next few months.

A report that passion fruit has been observed ripening at Putaruru has been followed up by several statements by local gardeners that in Paeroa the fruit has been ripening for some weeks, and that some has already been fit to eat. Wattle in Blossom. Other signs that nature is stirring from her winter sleep are not lacking. Trees that shed their leaves in winterare bursting into bud, while willows have gone even further and are showing a light- green foliage. Wattle, ever an early tree, is blossoming profusely in many places. Along the foothills between Paeroa and Thames the all-the-year greenness of the pastures is now being accompanied by the spring shade of all growth, and fruit trees of many varieties are in full blossom. Birds are nesting, busily preparing for the springtime tasks of rearing their young, and everywhere the sights and sounds of re-awakening life are at hand.

A new warmth has appeared in the atmosphere and on Wednesday those who wore their “winter woollies” felt unfomfortably warm. Although the weather had not cleared yesterday the temperature was decidedly above that of winter months, and thoughts began to turn to the joys and delights of summer —swimming, cricket, tennis and bowls. Already eager spirits in Thames are getting into training for the hot season, and visitors report that on several tennis courts this week games have been in progress, and over a score of “early birds” have participated.

Indications that the summer this year -will be more in the nature of what is meant by the definition of that season are common. The atrocious weather conditions of the past two summers have made people despair that really hot and fine weather can be expected, but omens and signs in plenty are being recorded that this summer will be hot and fine. Maori lore and nature’s signals have all been employed to bolster up optimism, and for once they all seem to tally, so that it actually seems that New Zealand will experience a “proper summer” in 1937-38.