ATTENTION: DUE TO LIMITED INVENTORY AND A VERY LENGTHY WAITING LIST, WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT NEW ORDERS AT THIS TIME. WE REGRET ANY DISAPPOINTMENT THIS MIGHT CAUSE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE........ PLEASE CHECK THIS PAGE AGAIN NEXT SEASON FOR AN UPDATE ON THIS RARE TREE.
* * * * * * * * * * *
In horticultural terms, the Glastonbury Thorn is Crataegus monogyna 'Biflora' .... a selected variety of the common, single-seeded English Hawthorn. Its official name 'Biflora' refers to a unique tendency to re-bloom ( or "pre-bloom") somewhat in mid-winter, typically around the time of the Winter Solstice. This unseasonable manifestation of white blossoms obviously grabbed ancient peoples' attention and inspired their imaginations to invent myth, legend, and religious iconography around this unusual tree.
|
|
Glastonbury Tor - surmounted now by the lone tower of St. Michael's Church. The strangely conical 518' hill was once surrounded by watery marshes which turned it into an island - ....
.the legendary Isle of Avalon. | Recorded in the Doomsday Book census of 1086 as the richest monastery in Britain, the burned ruins of Glastonbury Abbey are reputed to be the burial place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. |
The best known and relevant story involves the fabled personage of Joseph of Arimathea, the saint credited with bringing Christianity - and the Holy Grail - to the British Isles. He was the uncle of Jesus' mother and the disciple responsible for preparing his great nephew's tomb. Joseph fled Jerusalem not long after the crucifixion and arrived by boat in Southern England some thirty years later. According to the legend, Joseph's boat sailed over the flat flooded Somerset Levels, coming to rest on Glastonbury Tor. Here Joseph is said to have implanted his staff in the ground on Christmas Day. Miraculously, this staff is said to have sprouted and bloomed, turning itself into the original Glastonbury Thorn tree ( also known as "the Holy Thorn")......
| |
This miracle no doubt impressed the indigenous population of Celtic Druids who worshipped a Goddess associated with the towering trees of primeval forest groves. In fact, the Hawthorn had been a sacred tree to pre-Christian religions for millennia, so the Glastonbury Thorn represents a symbolic and tangible link between the old and new belief systems. And it is probably not coincidence that the locale around Glastonbury was the site of ancient Druidic temples. The Thorn tree growing at the Abbey itself was said to have survived into the 17th century - when the Puritans came to power and cut it down as a relic of nature worship. Its stump finally died in the mid 1800's - though the Glastonbury Thorn lives on in its offspring......
Glastonbury: ..Thorn and Tor
We might speculate that the twice-blooming variety arose in this vicinity as a sport of the common English Hawthorn - perhaps long before the Christian period. The Hawthorn has always been one of the most beautiful trees in the Rose family and was believed to be inhabited by a great nature spirit which imbued it with magical healing powers. The Greek word "Kratos" strength gave the tree its botanical name.... for the hardness of its wood, its ability to live for hundreds of years, and the usefulness of its red berries. The tree is a boon to wildlife, supporting many moths, butterflies, and types of birds. Hawthorns are quick growing, and once established, tolerant of a range of growing conditions: wind, wet, sun, shade, drought, & chalk. By a very long tradition........it is a plant that merits - indeed demands - our deep respect.
| We will be offering a limited number of Glastonbury Thorn trees - grafted on roots of common Crataegus monogyna.......one year whips from $30.00; larger trees as available. Shipping charges (by UPS Ground) will depend on individual tree size and zone. Please call for further details ........ Our foundation propagating wood came by circuitous route from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. - whose grounds are graced by a fine specimen. We are privileged to be able to make this rare tree a possibility for your own landscape. |
While the Glastonbury Thorn tends to bloom during the English winter (and ours), the additional crop of blossoms is not a sure thing - and depends somewhat on weather conditions: periods of intemperate cold could prevent this event. So the December blooms should be regarded as a small miracle of grace....
"Nature is a temple from whose living columns
Commingling voices emerge at times;
Here man wanders through forests of symbols
Which seem to observe him with familiar eyes."
Correspondences - Charles Baudelaire ( 1821-1867 )
FAQs
The trees were very unusual because they flowered twice - once in the spring around Easter, and a second time at Christmas. Not surprisingly, they were seen as holy thorns. In the Civil Wars of the 17th century Puritan soldiers cut down the only remaining thorn because they saw it as an object of superstition.
What happened to the Glastonbury Thorn? ›
The "original" Glastonbury thorn was cut down and burned as a relic of superstition during the English Civil War, and one planted on Wearyall Hill in 1951 to replace it had its branches cut off in 2010.
What is the legend of the Glastonbury Thorn? ›
When Joseph of Arimathea arrived in Britain he is said to have landed on the island of Avalon (aka Glastonbury) and climbed up to Wearyall Hill. Exhausted, he thrust his staff into the ground and rested. By morning his staff had taken root and grown into a miraculous thorn tree that bloomed twice a year.
What kind of tree is the Glastonbury Thorn? ›
In horticultural terms, the Glastonbury Thorn is Crataegus monogyna 'Biflora' .... a selected variety of the common, single-seeded English Hawthorn. Its official name 'Biflora' refers to a unique tendency to re-bloom ( or "pre-bloom") somewhat in mid-winter, typically around the time of the Winter Solstice.
Why is Glastonbury so special? ›
Glastonbury has a long tradition of being 'The Isle of Avalon' where King Arthur went after his last battle. The monks of Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have found his grave in 1191. Jesus is said to have come to Glastonbury as a boy, travelling here with Joseph of Arimathea.
Why is it called Glastonbury? ›
The name Glastonbury is derived from Old English: Glæstyngabyrig. When the settlement is first recorded in the 7th and the early 8th century, it was called Glestingaburg.
Why was Glastonbury Abbey destroyed? ›
Disaster struck in 1184 when a great fire destroyed most of the abbey including the Old Church. Rebuilding began immediately, with the support of King Henry II, beginning with the Lady Chapel which commemorated and preserved the position of the Old Church.
Why did Jesus go to Glastonbury? ›
Later stories connected Glastonbury directly to the life of Christ. In the 19th century, a popular West Country folk tale claimed that Christ had visited Britain with his great uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, in pursuit of the tin trade.
What is the holy thorn? ›
WB.67 about 1400 • Enamelled gold, sapphires, rubies and pearls • reliquary relic. This reliquary was made to contain a thorn, supposedly from the Crown of Thorns that was placed on Christ's head before the Crucifixion.
What does Glastonbury symbolize? ›
Glastonbury has long been associated with the heart chakra in spiritual traditions. The heart chakra is associated with love, compassion, and unity, and Glastonbury is seen as a place where individuals can connect with these energies.
The story goes that it is the gateway to Avalon, The Land of the Dead, from the King Arthur legend. Others believe that Jesus Christ visited Glastonbury as a young man and that Joseph returned to the site after the crucifixion to bury the Holy Grail.
What is the Holy Grail at Glastonbury? ›
Medieval legends further claimed Joseph was not only a relative of Jesus (some said his great uncle) but that he brought the Holy Grail to Glastonbury, the very cup that Jesus had used with his disciples at the Last Supper.
What is the cutting of the holy thorn Glastonbury? ›
The Cutting Ceremony takes place on a schoolday in mid- December and local schoolchildren sing a special song – the eldest child or children of St John's Infant School cut the sprig aided by the Mayor and there is a brief blessing by the Vicar.
What tree is the Mayflower? ›
Crataegus monogyna (family Rosaceae), a species of hawthorn, is commonly known as mayflower or May flower in England.
What is the English thorn bush? ›
General Description. English hawnthorn is a long-lived, deciduous, small tree to large shrub. Its branches have sharp thorns and the leaves are deeply lobed. White flowers, which can have a pink tint, bloom in May and develop red fruits in the fall.
Has Glastonbury Tor ever been excavated? ›
Modern Archaeology: Excavations on Glastonbury Tor, undertaken between 1964 and 1966, revealed evidence of Dark Age occupation around the later Medieval church of St. Michael.
What made the Puritans unwelcome in England? ›
Because the king of England was head of both church and state, the Puritans' opposition to religious authority meant they also defied the civil authority of the state. In 1630, the Puritans set sail for America.
What is special about Glastonbury Tor? ›
Glastonbury Tor is one of the most famous landmarks in Somerset, if not the whole of the West Country. It's not just famous because it can be seen for miles and miles around, but also because it has huge spiritual significance for many people. The conical shape of Glastonbury Tor is natural.
