April BLOOMS

Ulex europaeus, commonly known as gorse, furze or whin, is native to Western Europe and in the UK often begins flowering as early as January, but it reaches its most dazzling display in April and May, when whole hillsides can glow under the spring sun. These pictures were taken on the Isle of Man this month (April). Gorse thrives in sunny, well-drained, acidic soils, often in open, windy coastal cliffs, as found on the exposed islands in the Celtic and Irish Seas.