August 2018: Blackthorn [Prunus spinosa] (Schwarzdorn), belongs to the Rosaceae: At the moment these bushes catch your eye with their blue fruits: This is a rare colour on a bush. As conditions were very good since it was blooming there are so many fruits that the whole branches appear bluish. We can eat them after the first frost only, but more than 20 species of birds feed on them. The blackthorn's thorns can grow up to more than 5cm! Therefore an old bush is a perfect place for birds' nests. New bushes can grow out of roots and thus form thick hedges. Therefore it is sometimes used to fix steep slopes. It's wood is very hard and used for carving and for walking sticks. Here are some spring pictures of the same branch:
http://www.seasonsandbiomes.net/viewgallery.php?img=simb91804/918041804113.jpg
http://www.seasonsandbiomes.net/viewgallery.php?img=simb91804/918041804145.jpg
http://www.seasonsandbiomes.net/viewgallery.php?img=simb91804/918041804255.jpg
The blackthorn comes into bloom very early in spring, long before the leaves come out and therefore is visible very well at that time. It is an important early spring nectar source for butterflies and other insects as wild bees. Later the leaves are food for several caterpillars and beatles. The blackthorn is common in Europe, western Asia and northern Africa and was introduced in northern America and even New Zealand.
