In this country blackthorn seems to bloom in two flushes. In the Westcountry blackthorn can be in flower in February. But then there's a second flush starting in early April. There's a suspicion among us botanists that the early flowering ones are a distinct race which is not native to the UK. The sloes are just as good. A good tip is to put the sloes in the freezer for a night or two before making the sloe gin. Saves having to prick them. One bottle of gin, twelve ounces of sloes, six ounces of sugar. A big mistake is to panic and pick the sloes too early for fear of someone else getting them first. Sloes picked in September are useless. Mid-October is good. The sloe gin will be quaffable by Christmas but far better if kept until next year. Damsons are as good or even better than sloes, and you can use vodka instead of gin with either. You won't be able to tell the difference.