Clouds of White
‘Beware the Blackthorn Winter’ is a country saying about a spell of cold weather in early April which often coincides with the blossoming of the blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa). The pure white of the blackthorn blossom matches the snow or hoar frost covering the fields nearby and almost invariably bitter north easterly winds. The longer days and sun gaining strength at this time of year often give a spell of warmer weather - but then the Blackthorn Winter comes along and reminds us it’s not quite summer yet. Statistically, we are more likely to have snow at Easter than at Christmas.
A Blackthorn Winter can be described as the opposite of an Indian summer.
Blackthorn white blossoms appear before the leaves, creating a contrast against the dark smooth thorny branches. The blackthorn flowers eventually become purple sloes, ripening in autumn and harvested traditionally in October or November, after the first frosts, and used to make a Sloe gin liqueur.
Clouds of White
‘Beware the Blackthorn Winter’ is a country saying about a spell of cold weather in early April which often coincides with the blossoming of the blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa). The pure white of the blackthorn blossom matches the snow or hoar frost covering the fields nearby and almost invariably bitter north easterly winds. The longer days and sun gaining strength at this time of year often give a spell of warmer weather - but then the Blackthorn Winter comes along and reminds us it’s not quite summer yet. Statistically, we are more likely to have snow at Easter than at Christmas.
A Blackthorn Winter can be described as the opposite of an Indian summer.
Blackthorn white blossoms appear before the leaves, creating a contrast against the dark smooth thorny branches. The blackthorn flowers eventually become purple sloes, ripening in autumn and harvested traditionally in October or November, after the first frosts, and used to make a Sloe gin liqueur.