A Blackthorn or Sloe, Prunus spinosa, twig with white blossom.
Blackthorn is a member of the Prunus family, which includes trees bearing fruits such as cherries, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds. Their blossoms, famously cherry blossom, are often particularly attractive. Blackthorn blossom arrives fairly early in the year, before the leaves emerge. Their nectar is therefore very valuable to early flying insects.
The dark pruple fruit of the Blackthorn can be seeped in sugar and gin, becoming, after a period of maturing, Sloe Gin.
This photo is copyright © Liz Leyden, all rights reserved.
My photo of Blackthorn blossom is for sale as wall art or as various home or personal accessories at Pixels.com.
It is available to license as a stock photo from iStock.
