At the time of writing, the damson blossom of south Westmorland is in full and furious bloom.

So is the blackthorn, crowding some of the hedges like a diminutive cousin of the larger berried tree.

Once again I wonder at the origin of the damson.

Is it a true native? Is it, as so many say, a 12th or perhaps 13th century import - a bush brought to England first by crusaders returning from the Holy Land.

The true home of the damson is Syria.

How did it reach Westmorland - or other limestone areas much further south, where according to some Westmerian loyalists, the berries are poorer flavoured and smaller!

Whatever the origin, now is certainly the time to see this leafless, lovely, flower-covered tree at its seasonal best.

Always favouring limestone country, it is slowly making a comeback in the south of the county.

Hopefully, such a storm of blossom means a good crop of fruit for the autumn.

In the last year or two, these trees have produced a much reduced crop - but that comes later - late September or early October.

There is now a glorious show of damson blossom in several valleys of south Westmorland, with each and every one of them now inviting a visit.

Craggy damson trees appear in many places - but of which variety? I now learn that damsons (always thought to be purple, with glorious, paler bloom covering the riper fruit) may be also green or yellow.

Of this last colour, we had such a tree in the garden bearing small, damson-like (but decidedly yellow) fruit - always listed by us as "gages", until, becoming badly diseased, it was finally cut down.

Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa), Bullace (P.Institia) and Damson (P.Damascena) are all closely related.

The blackthorn makes a marvellous gin.

But the sour fruit is little used for anything else.

Heaps of blackthorn stones were found at an Iron Age settlement not many miles from this house, which I find puzzling.

How could any people, even the tough prehistoric fold, ever eat such sour fruit - and in quantity? This was long before the introduction of sugar, and the only sweetener then was honey, usually scarce enough one would think.

Bullace fruit is also rather limited, and though plump is still sharp-tasting.

Damson is the best of all - when fully ripe, and today, it may come in many varieties.

Blue violet, Bradley King, Farleigh, Godshill, golden Bulace, King of Damsons.

Langley, Merryweather, Red Mirabelle, Shepherd and Shropshire Damson are all modern (cultivated) varieties.

Most are easily grown - and all throw out suckers travelling underground for yards if not carefully checked! We have a stretch of damsons/bullace hedge, usually trimmed before fruit may arrive so we are never sure of the true species! It is a pest by the number of suckers sent into the garden proper - sometimes these may travel underground for several yards before appearing in rose, chrysanthemum or even poppy beds! On the northern hedge, we have several such suckers now changed into young trees.

They flower beautifully most years - but then the cold winds - often with heavy rain - make sure that we see little fruit from them.

Such lowering temperatures also ensure that little or no insect pollination is possible.

The Westmorland damson blossom was magnificent, but it included a double bonus.

One, a trio of buzzards, wheeling high over newly-leaved trees.

Circling and rising high on the thermals with scarcely a wing beat.

Next was the red squirrel, betrayed by drooping, bushy tail.

Quick, agile and cunning, this dainty animal moved along - not across the branch, so that the whole body - and tail - were supported by it, appearing as little more than a small lump on the tree limb!