Spotting blossom buds on the hawthorns yesterday in rural Lancashire, a few even out, but not many as yet. I reckon by the 9th it'll be well blooming!

For the Kipling poem see A Tree Song. It was set to music by Peter Bellamy on his Oak, Ash & Thorn album and has since entered the pagan canon as traditional inspiring the best & worst:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZyEy718ew4