Gorse
Gorse is a native shrub with dense, dark green shoots with very sharp spines . It can flower all year round.... but most around here seem to flower in either March to May or late summer. The blooms are fragrant pea-like bright yellow flowers.
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Its habit makes it a great refuge for small birds and mammals, and its flowers are a good source of nectar for bees and butterflies. It is also a food plant for several moth and butterfly larvae.
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This group of Gorse was alive with bird life when I stopped here and rested... I saw Gold Finches, Green Finches... Sparrows, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Robins, and some kind of Warbler. It is also home to a Rabbit Warren... which over the last few years seem to be doing well..jpg)
I love seeing this in bloom, it can really light the hillside up when in flower, this is a shrub that as been used in hedgerows in the past... now it is not in favour. Luckily a lot of farmers leave it to grow as in winter it offers a wind break and shelter.
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Not the kind of plant you would like to fall in, those spikes are why many birds choose to nest in it as it helps to keep predators from getting at their eggs and young. 
8 comments:
Well, this is a new one on me. I never heard of it before today, Tom. And are those thorns or just pointed green leaves. It looks to be very dense and if it is as it looks then I am guessing it is also a good place for rabbits, or hares, to hide away from predators.
I really like the color of the flowers too. Yellow is one of my favorite flower colors.
Abe..They are thorns..... and very very sharp... and you are also correct about rabbits... there is in fact a rabbit warren in these.. there were one or two rabbit about but hid when I was getting to near.
Such a sunny colour! I don't think gorse grows her in Ontario.
There's a lot of this in Morth Yorkshire Tom, its a wonderful sight.
Very pretty in its native habitat. Here it is a noxious weed and quite a headache to keep under control.
And has a lovely coconut smell!
That gorse reminds of my first trip to Scotland many years ago - every hillside was yellow! You have captured this very well - beautiful.
Way back in the past we lived in a place that had bushes with thorns about an inch long, but not flowers like the gorse. Your bluebells are also gorgeous!
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