Some things you hear once and never forget. For me, it was during a college lecture on cardiovascular health. The lecturer introduced hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus laevigata) as the “Arteries of Great Britain.”
It made perfect sense. From the air, the British countryside is stitched together by endless hedgerows of hawthorn – a living, breathing network that nourishes and shelters wildlife. Just like our arteries, they carry life. And right now, in late summer, those hedgerows are heavy with bright red berries, a symbol of vitality.
A Herb Steeped in History
