I noticed yesterday morning that the Whitethorn (also known as Hawthorn and May-tree) has come into flower. The lovely white blossom sprays are appearing from under the freshly sprouted green leaves all over the countryside. The Whitethorn (Crataegus monogyna) flowers from May to June every year, so it is little bit early this year.

The Whitethorn is not to be confused with the Blackthorn as they are different genuses though they both belong to the Rosaceae family. The Blackthorn flowers from March to May every year and has nearly always finished flowering before the Whitethorn blossoms. As its scientific name - Prunus spinosa - suggests, the Blackthorn is a relation of the plum, its fruit being the Sloe.