[Theme] this winter...

[ColinM]

What a great theme for a thread Thomas.

Amongst many good images, I love Tom H's third one, with what looks like the 'cups' from acorns nestling amongst the green vegetation.

[Fons Baerken]

[Fons Baerken]

[Gary]

Everything is pretty normal in my neck of the woods. Buttttt ... El Nino storms are lining up and they are ready to start hitting in a few days.  So, I'll get back to you guys.  Hopefully, our four year drought is over.

[Bruno Schroder]

The other Hamamelis

[Bruno Schroder]

Bruno, that is a female Ring Necked Parakeet

Thanks for the identification, Mike. I first thought it escaped from captivity and was preparing to call the neighbors but, with the right name on it, I quickly found that 30 km from here, Brussels has about 5000 Ring Necked Parakeets, which are then probably expanding in the countryside.

[rosko]

I quickly found that 30 km from here, Brussels has about 5000 Ring Necked Parakeets, which are then probably expanding in the countryside.

Same thing in Paris suburban : I use to stop at my brother-in-law in North suburban when I commute between UK and South-West of France. There's a big flock of these birds acclimated there. I am sure they will stay there as there's plenty food provided in the gardens.

Here, in South England, I could see in the garden growing new small Rhubarb leave, Forsythia flowers, Blue-bells leaves, Honey suckle buds, and even some bee activity !

[rosko]

 

[John Geerts]

I have no clue what it is, but the flowers seem exceptional...

[ColinM]

Seeing Rosko's bees, I wanted to add that on Friday 1st Jan we had a Red Admiral butterfly happily flitting around our garden.

I wasn't able to take a photo myself, but this is what they look like



I think we're going to get a strange Spring after the cold weather finally has arrived and killed off a lot of this "bloomed too early" flora & fauna

[Thomas G]

The weather forecast is telling us that the temperature will stay around plus 5 centigrades for the next days.
A Hydrangea macrophylla (Gartenhortensie) is taking advantage and is starting new leaves and possible blossoms.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

To bring balance to this picture of global warming in Europe, this is today's view from my girl friend's veranda. Little snow, thus not a normal scenario for the time of the year, but cold enough at -25C. The view to the forested hills in the background is restricted due to heavy frost fog on the main river running at the valley floor. The river is not yet iced over.

(Nikon Df, 105/1.8 Nikkor AIS)

[Øivind Tøien]

Lovely atmosphere. 
Well it seems Oslo is actually colder than Fairbanks right now only -22°C here, which is low consider the typical temperatures of -2°C to -15°C lately in spite of some clear nights. We have really gotten spoiled by the unseasonably warm weather. -25°C in Oslo with its proximity to the sea must feel really cold! Or are you at a location further inland?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Inland north of the city proper - but not by more than 40 km. However, in periods of calm weather, topography creates  cold sink holes and inversions, so gradients can be extreme.

[elsa hoffmann]

Bjørn - I know that my perception of the cold is no where near reality - but I truly wish I could capture the feeling of the cold as you did.
For us in SA - snow is like a fairy tail. Yes I know it's not really true