All hail the mayflower!
Hawthorn blossom attracts clouds of hungry insects and brings colour to the countryside
Are you still wearing your vest? You should be, if you follow the rule that you should ‘ne’er cast a clout ‘til May be out’. It’s puzzling, but makes more sense if you know that ‘clout’ is an old word for clothes and the ‘May’ that’s referred to isn’t the month, but the creamy-white blossom of the may tree, or hawthorn.
From late April until well into May, hawthorn blossom brings an eye-catching splash of colour to Britain’s landscapes. The scent can be powerful and, on sunny days, hawthorn blossom attracts clouds of nectar-hungry insects.
Hawthorn is everywhere in the countryside, but it’s a feature of many towns and cities. Often well-established hawthorn hedges pre-date the houses, shops and factories that now surround them. There’s something about hawthorn blossom that raises the spirits. Like bluebells and the dawn chorus, it’s a marker that says summer isn’t far off.
May blossom was a powerful symbol to pre-Christian Britons because the hawthorn flowered at or around Beltane, the festival that was celebrated on the first day of May. More recently, it played its part in May Day celebrations.
Whether or not you buy into the spiritual significance, hawthorn is a tree to find some space for in the garden. At this time of year, the blossom feeds insects, and hawthorn’s dense, prickly structure makes it a great nesting site for birds. Through the summer its leaves are a food for lots of insect larvae. In fact, more than 150 insects are associated with this one tree species.
Last, but not least, in autumn and winter, hawthorn berries feed birds. They’re a particular favourite for blackbirds, redwings and fieldfares.