My holly bush is full of berries...

[KalindaBlack]

As the title says, by bush is full of berries and apparently this means we're in for a harsh winter. Is this true or is it an old wives tale?

Whereabouts are you?

Our holly bush doesn't have any berries yet (we are in London).

l don't know about holly, but my neighbour has a gorgeous shrub which overhangs my fence, and it's absolutely thick with yellow berries. They do say that heralds a bad winter, yes.

Oh, I came on expecting you had a weird sti, sorry 😁.

Haven't seen berries around here but are expecting a harsh winter. Had a heavy hailstorm today.

Cotoneasters are 'blooming' with red or orange berries.

The more berries there are, the harsher the winter to come.

I've never seen so many berries on ours.

So it could be true then! Interesting.

I've seen lots out and about. Earlier than most years as well

The amount of berries on a plant is to do with the weather last spring/early summer. There was a drought so plants respond by throwing all they have into berry/seed production so they can reproduce well. It has no bearing on future weather.

Listen to magimedi, she knows her stuff!!

I call bullshit.
How would the holly know that it’s going to be a harsh winter?

And if you want some berried holly for Christmas - pick it, on longish stalks, at the start of December & leave in a bucket of water in a cool dark place (shed or garage) & it will be fine for decorations.

If you leave picking it until the week of Christmas you risk the birds having snaffled all the berries.

Dammit! Wish I'd known that two weeks ago while my holly still had berries left...

Yes, two holly trees loaded with berries here. I hope it's not true, I hate snow and ice.

Our Rowan is covered in berries - birds have had a good go at it but there are still hundreds of them

We have two holly bushes, different varieties, And no berries. I was looking for them the other day too because I wanted them for a photo and I was told it's still too early for them.

Anyway, I've never heard of the link to the winter. I hope it's not a harsh one because I need to be able to work and can't if all the schools are shut.