hawthorn

Took these pics today in less than ideal conditions, but it almost looks like its been snowing.
That could happen yet. :D

 

It is a very much underrated tree in my opinion. Mind when you can collect a 2 gallon bucket full of seedlings from the veg patch alone, you begin to wonder whether it is a good idea to have them around the garden!

 

That is fantastic close up Pete, I can smell it! Sorry to say I agree with Palustris, I dug mine out as seedlings were AND still are a hassle. I do enjoy them in hedge rows though and we still see people round here collecting berries for jelly in autumn.

 

Yeah, its not really a garden plant, but it seems like a lot of other trees this year to be flowering like crazy.

 

And here's me tenderly training one :rolleyes:

 

My dad had a nice red one that he grew as a tree - kind of mop head thing. It always did well, must have been grafted, but I would really recomend it for a garden version of this lovely English shrub.

 

Pauls Double Scarlet is the best red one and it is indeed a grafted tree.

 

Of course you have to remember that it is very unlucky to cut the flowers and bring them into the house.

 

We had a massive one at one time - even had a swing for the kids on it, but it got so big, over-hung the neighbours' garden and was a haven for greenfly that it got the chainsaw caress about 18 years ago. A shame in a way as it looked lovely when in blossom.

We've got a seedling from it, a bonsai about 8 inches tall and the little child who used to swing from the parent now tends the bonsai.

[ 21. May 2006, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: Dave W ]

 

I like Hawthorne and so do the birds, so I don't get too much trouble from seedlings. I planted them as whips many years ago round my then wild flower bed, now woodland, and they are now established trees - in full flower.

 

I love them and have loads in my wild-life, native hedge, with plenty spare, so I have a couple I'll have as trees in the wildlife area of the garden.
Does anyone have the laevigata version? I fancy one - really nice leaves, and flowers later on - any thoughts, anyone??

 

We get the seedling precisely because the birds love the haws. They fly over the garden and hop around it with full crops and leave us nice little packages of hawthorn, holly, ivy, briar roses and even rowan.

 

Here is the double pink one.

 

Lovely palustris - tempting to find a place for one!

 

I just love the scent of hawthorn or May Flower as I prefer to call it. Paul's Scarlet is also a cracker though not much perfume to it. I've never thought of training one round a pole though!