Wednesday, 7 May 2014

the hawthorn tree - may

 

This month it's all about flowers... the blossom on the hawthorn is just starting to open, now that all the leaves have unfurled. From a distance, the tree is looking quite different now.

 

  
 

  

The blossom of the 'May Tree' has strong associations with May Day celebrations and the old traditions of Beltane. People would decorate their homes with bunches of blossom and even wear it themselves. The significance of this would be to celebrate new life and the beginning of the growing season. See 'Queen of The May' for more on this.

 

My companions on this little trip to the hawthorn tree enjoyed sitting underneath it...


Growing in the grassland under the tree was Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Dandelion, Pignut, Buttercup, Creeping Cinquefoil.

Pignut

Creeping Cinquefoil

Meadow Buttercup


The hawthorn tree in  March : April

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following Project' - do take a look at the other trees that are being carefully observed.

I am also 'following a tree' on the Christ Church Welshpool blog, where I'm looking at an old apple tree in the churchyard.






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5 comments:

  1. chloris7 May 2014 at 18:55

    A lovely tree in a lovely setting. The Hawthorn blossoms here in Suffolk have been out for some time now. I didn' t realise that we were so far ahead of you. But you have got it all to come and here everything is rushing on too fast.

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    1. Unknown7 May 2014 at 23:12

      Thank you! It still feels as though everything is rushing too fast, I wish I could pause 'life' and have more time to take it all in. My favourite time of year though.

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  2. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!7 May 2014 at 20:12

    It's only today that I've felt hawthorn blasted here - I find it overwhelming it's so dense once it's all out.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown7 May 2014 at 23:14

      Yes it can get a bit much. It's lovely when the first few are out - looking in their prime.

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  3. Caroline Gill8 May 2014 at 13:32

    Lots of Hawthorn blossom here. My TF Silver Birch is still at the catkin phase this month ... I must check out my own garden varieties of Speedwell (though I seem to have more Scarlet Pimpernel, which perhaps likes our Suffolk sand!). What a fine cat!

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