What a glorious spring it is being - even after the forecast said the sunshine would break. And now blackthorn is in full flower - my favourite spring blossom. Tiny, delicate, understated but there first, before the leaves break through on this prickly shrub. The insects love it, and it only flowers on old wood - a good reason not to cut your hedges every year. Hedges trimmed annually have something like 50 times less blackthorn blossom, and why would you miss this spring glory?