The Blackthorn (Sloe) in our hedges is not quite open yet, but any day now the tiny white flowers will unfold and light up the hedgerows far and wide. In the meantime I brought a few branches indoors that had broken off or been partly severed by heavy snow in the winter. I was lucky, and most of them turned out to be still alive and opened within just a couple of days.
I really like the fizzy flowers close up. And they really do ‘fizz’!
The birds love this shrub, as it provides safe refuge from birds of prey. However, I have also seen shrikes in it (alongside the robinia) … the huge thorns are used to pierce their prey. Fortunately I have never seen this process up close!
This is defintely another shrub that could be forced even earlier in the year, so I must remember that for future winters.
I am joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden again for her Monday meme, where we share things from our gardens in a vase each week. Do go over to visit her site, and maybe you’ll want to join in!
Have a great week!
Words and Herbs 
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. 😉
I did the same with broken dogwood and redbud branches recently, why waste a perfectly good opportunity for indoor beauty? 🙂
Precisely. Quite a few had to go on the compost heap nonetheless, but I saved the best! 😃
Your Blackthorn flowers are really eye-catching. It must be quite a sight to behold when all the hedges are in bloom. Have a wonderful week Cathy.
It really does brighten up the countryside when they flower, usually accompanied by the odd wild cherry, as there is still no foliage on the trees and hedgerow shrubs.
Beautiful flowers, blackthorn and hawthorne both.
Yes, the blackthorn flowers stand out so well before any leaves are out.
Oh these are so lovely….like a profusion of fluffy white yet each blossom unique like a snowflake. The bees must be intoxicated when they open.
You are right Donna – the overall effect is lovely, but each tiny flower even more so. 😃
I always find it remarkable that tiny buds in a cut stem can spring to life like that! (I guess that statement’s an unintended pun 😉 The blackthorn’s flowers are especially pretty.
It is a wonder that branches can be forced to bloom, isn’t it! I once had willow catkins open in a vase after cutting branches from a tree that had been blown down in a storm several weeks earlier.
I see what you mean about them fizzing, Cathy! You must be really pleased that they opened after you had brought them in. The hedges round here are frothy and white too, with cherry plum (or wild plum, I am never very sure) as much as the blackthorn. Interesting fact about the shrikes, who sound a very enterprising species, although like you I would rather not witness their skill
I have seen a shrike with a large grasshopper in his beak, but didn’t wait to see what he did with it!
That must be an eye-catching hedge when it blooms.
The hedges are a nice mix, so as soon as these have gone over the Hawthorne and then the Viburnum will also produce white flowers.
Loveliness – and lucky you for bringing them inside!
It was perhaps luck that a few branches had broken as I would otherwise have hesitated in cutting some!
Ooh I love the freshness of the flowers. Green and white go so beautifully together.
Those flowers are lovely close up aren’t they!
So pretty, Cathy and what a joyful breath of spring. I have not seen or heard of blackthorn, it reminds me of hawthorn. We have shrikes here that impale giant grasshoppers on thorny palm trees – the grasshoppers are poisonous unless dried out, smart shrikes. I have not seen this but have seen the grasshoppers in the palms.
The blackthorn flowers before any leaves are out, making it all the more dramatic. The hawthorne will be the next to flower in our mixed hedges. 😃
wonderful!
It resembles Chickasaw plum or American plum.
It is plum family: Prunus spinosa. The fruit is used (by some) for making sloe gin.
Yes, that is the same genus. I have never encountered it though. I see it only in pictures.
They look so refreshingly cheerful, Cathy! Are they scented at all?
They certainly look like they would bring lots of spring indoors!
Have a lovely week!
Hi Amy! Yes, they have a light fragrance if warmed by the sun. They are a lovely substitute for cherry to bring indoors, as the wild cherry are all too tall to reach!
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I’m glad your rescued branches opened with such splendor. Things are really starting to pop now.
Thanks Alys. Yes, it is getting greener by the hour here too. 😉
🌺🌻🌿
I was admiring a Blackthorn bush on Sunday.
They are a lovely sight both from afar and close up.
The Sloe blossom is out here in the hedgerows and a lovely addition to the season. Even the dandelions are just perfect. With the way you have arranged the stems one can admire also their dark stems and form. Bringing a little of the wild into the home is something lovely to do appreciating the beauty of nature.
Thank you Noelle. It is not easy to arrange with those big thorns though…
Another beauty Cathy and most definitely fizzy. There is some interesting folklore around blackthorn too.
Hi Anna. I think Blackthorn is linked to witches a lot…. I believe it has healing properties too though. 😉
These are great, love the backdrop of the white walls, and how the flowers pop out against them, seeming to grow into the photo, even though they are in vases. They are excellent, kudos to you for growing them and your photos are great.
Thank you Damien. 😃
Anytime. 🙂