NEN Gallery

With the leaves formed, the flower buds are now starting to develop. Its flowering is meant to herald the arrival of summer and warm weather, hence the saying 'Ner cast a clout until the May is out' in other words don't pack away winter clothing until it flowers. Hawthorn is a thorny shrub or tree (up to 10m) with dark green deeply lobed leaves. It flowers in spring (May-June), producing white clustered flowers very like those of Blackthorn with which it is often confused. In late summer it forms bright oval red fruits 'haws'. It is very common in hedgerows, scrub and woodlands particularly in heavy soils. Picture taken 30th April near Old Warden, Bedfordshire.