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252.)

20th-27th Dec. 1951. 

Colder with frost on nights of 20th & 25th, much rain, gales on 19th & severe gale on night of 26th-27th & all day on 27th.  First snow of year on hills above 1500 ft. on morning of 26th.  24th very dull & wet - no wind.  25th & 26th both almost all sunny, but strong cold SW-W wind.  On 25th walked in early afternoon to Orwell Bridge, down Dodder to Dartry & home but saw no wasps at ivy where one seen in 18th. 

On forenoon of 26th George, Daisy & I walked from 54 bus to the Greenhills & via Tyman Castle & Barrothery back to Templeogue & thence 49 bus home.  By the stream N. of Tyman Castle ♀︎ flowers numerous on the early hazle bush, but no ♂︎ catkins yet shedding pollen, though very nearly ready to do so.  The previous week the hazel on slope below Fetherstonhaugh Convalescent Home, S. of Dodder at Orwell Bridge, appeared to have ♂︎ Catkins ripe, but light bad & I had not time to go over to inspect it at close quarters.


253.)

1952.

1st to 6th Jan. 1952. 

The month opened with cold, gales & much rain, turning to snow & a couple of frosty nights; then suddenly very mild with light drizzle at times & humid.

On 2nd the hills were quite white above 700 feet & patchy below this, with drifts of snow remaining from previous fall as low as Terenure (ca. 200 ft.)  On Sunday 6th - a very mild day, with clouds over hills & plain, but blue hole between, took 10.25 AM. bus to Tibradden & walked via Rockbrook, Mount Venus & Ballyboden to Templeogue where caught bus home at 12.45.  Saw plenty of Equisetum hyemale (as usual) in lane NE of Mount Venus;  one flower on Celandine on E. side of military road just above 1st gate S. of Ballyboden & many dozen Honey Bees at ivy blossom between Ballyboden & Cosgrave's house, but no wasp & I fear bad week after Xmas has killed the last of them, as none seen since 18th Dec.


7th-12th Jan. 1952. 

More gales, rain & changes from mild to cold & cold to mild & back to cold on 11th, 12th was a most beautiful & entirely sunny day with no wind, after a frosty night.  Saturday!  In afternoon walked to Templeogue Bridge & back to Rathfarnham bus, but except for a Dipper below Templeogue Bridge saw nothing of interest.