If the amount of blackthorn flowers is anything to go by, there’ll be plenty of sloes this year. Has anyone ever made sloe gin, I bet Tish has.
The river and mill leat area is my favourite place to walk the dogs at the moment, it’s filled with wild flowers and the sound of birdsong, there the blackthorn is prolific.
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Lucid Gypsy 
We’ve been calling it Hawthorn, Gilly, but it’s very lovely, whatever xxx
Blackthorn is first and the flowers are produced before the leaves, hawthorn is usually May and the leaves come first. (Which is why its nickname is May flower and why the proverb ‘ne’er cast a clout til May is out’ could refer to the flower and not the month.
Thank you, fount of all garden knowledge. 🙂 🙂 I shall start calling you Mrs. Monty Don.
Oh, no, please don’t!! I believe it was Gilly herself who reminded me of this fact several years ago!!
Probably. She’s pretty knowledgeable too 🙂 🙂
Bit late here this year, but I bet the recent sunshine has brought out the flowers.
A beautiful place to go walking, Gilly. 😍
I specially love the last panoramic. I’m glad spring is finally coming to – creating? – the party.
Such lovely spring colours, the white against that true blue sky,
How pretty, Gilly. It’s no wonder it’s your favorite place to walk the dogs. 🙂
Love sloe gin and make it every year, plus damson gin. I’ve got a damson tree which I cherish both for the blossom (which has been demolished in the weekend storms) and the fruit. Nothing beats damson jam in my book but I don’t make jam, I just stew the fruit and eat it like a jam.
Ooooh, Sloe Gin! My mother used to make it, and I want sloe- picking with her once….
Excellent news – I’ve used up all my sloe gin. Will be out hunting this autumn after the first frost!
What a beautiful place for a walk Gilly. Have never heard of or tasted Sloe Gin. Is it seasonal?
I people make it for Christmas yes. Sloes are little dark purple blue fruits, like small damsons, but unlike damsons you wouldn’t eat them, they’d be very sour.
Looks like a beautiful day Gilly … lovely images! 🙂 I wouldn’t mind a G & T right now ..