Black thorns, white flowers

Blackthorn is in many ways a pesky plant.  It spreads rapidly by means of suckers growing up from the roots and is one of the plants which we have to keep in check at Filnore, or it would block all the paths and cover the grassland.  When we cut it back to clear it, it takes revenge with its vicious thorns.

The off-white flowers appear on the dark twigs before any leaves.  (Compare the earlier, larger, whiter flowers and green twigs of Myrobalan Plum featured on my blog post of 26th March.)

Despite its peskiness, at this time of year, when every blackthorn bush is covered in blossom, it has its moment of glory

Map below shows where the view was taken