WEEKLY VIEW
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Hawthorn Tree Crataegus monogyna,Mayblossom. Quick. Thorn. Whitethorn. Haw. Hazels. Gazels. Halves. Hagthorn. Ladies' Meat. Bread and Cheese Tree
The saying goes "Ne'er cast a cloot till Meys oot", some people go with the month of May others believe it is the MAYFLOWER i go with the Latter.The saying "Ne'er cast a cloot til Mey's oot" conveys a warning not to shed any cloots (clothes) before the summer has fully arrived and the may flowers (hawthorn blossoms) are in full bloom.
The Hawthorn Tree is said to represent true love, partnership and commitment, and the ancient Celts refered to the Hawthorn tree as "The Marriage Tree".The blossoms are also reputed to be highly erotic to men.
Hawthorn trees are an ancient symbol of protection, often planted around homes and churches to form a protective shield from evil. Any site which grows both Hawthorn trees and Blackthorn trees is thought to be an enchanted area.
Lore has it that it is very unlucky to cut the tree at any time other than when it is in bloom, however during this time it is commonly cut and decorated as a May Bush. This warning persists to modern times; it has been questioned by folklorist Bob Curran whether the ill luck of the De Lorean Motor Company was associated with the destruction of a fairy thorn to make way for a production facility.
Branches of Glastonbury Thorn, C. Oxyacantha var. praecox, which flowers both in December and in spring, were formerly highly valued in England, on account of the legend that the tree was originally the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.
Many country villagers believe that Hawthorn flowers still bear the smell of the Great Plague of London. The tree was formerly regarded as sacred, probably from a tradition that it furnished the Crown of Thorns.
The device of a Hawthorn bush was chosen by Henry VII because a small crown from the helmet of Richard III was discovered hanging on it after the battle of Bosworth, hence the saying, 'Cleve to thy Crown though it hangs on a bush.'
The Hawthorn is called Crataegus Oxyacantha from the Greek kratos, meaning hardness (of the wood), oxcus (sharp), and akantha (a thorn).
It possesses a single seed-vessel to each blossom producing a separate fruit, which when ripe is a brilliant red and this is in miniature a stony apple. In some districts these mealy red fruits are called Pixie Pears, Cuckoo's Beads and Chucky Cheese. The flowers are mostly fertilized by carrion insects, the suggestion of decomposition in the perfume attracts those insects that lay their eggs and hatch out their larvae in decaying animal matter.
Formerly the timber, when of sufficient size, was used for making small articles. The root-wood was also used for making boxes and combs; the wood has a fine grain and takes a beautiful polish. It makes excellent fuel, making the hottest wood-fire known and used to be considered more desirable than Oak for oven-heating. Charcoal made from it has been said to melt pig-iron without the aid of a blast.
Medicinal..Cardiac, diuretic, astringent, tonic. Mainly used as a cardiac tonic in organic and functional heart troubles. Both flowers and berries are astringent and useful in decoction to cure sore throats. A useful diuretic in dropsy and kidney troubles.
It's been awhile since the last update BUT that does'nt mean Swanholme Lakes Nature Reserve has slowed down or been quiet infact it's been quite the opposite,The Rangers have been busy repairing the fences (AGAIN) & doing bird counts plus numerous other tasks, The VOLUNTEERS have been busy clearing ROSE BAY WILLOW HERB & THISTLES plus other invasive plants (read further in the blog to find out more about these plants)
The Weather has been warming up & last weekend was the Hottest so far this year the only drawback is that with the Hot weather comes the SPACKTARDS & what destruction & mess they create !!! From Firescars to Broken SAPLINGS Broken bottles,Beer cans BBQs no thing is safe from their SPACKTARD feeble minds
If you see these SPACTARDS please please REPORT them to either the RANGERS or the POLICE don't just ignore them !!
