All week, I’ve been snapping away at hawthorn hedges in full bloom in the unseasonably hot sunshine but I came across this particularly glorious display in Beech Hill yesterday, it really was striking and very lush, so much so that it looked a bit like certain hedgerows had been targeted by a freak snowstorm.

One thing I didn’t realise until a moment ago is that as well as the hawthorn being known as the may tree, the blossom itself is called “may” and is presumably called this because it traditionally comes out in late April or May so I assume it is early this year. And I suppose it usually heralds in the warmer weather, hence the old English proverb “Leave not off a clout till may be out” which is supposed to mean don’t take off your winter clothing (clout = clothing) until the hawthorn blossom is out.  Good advice but since it is now out in spadefuls, I’ve been living in my shorts for the past few days…

For more recent photography see http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenwhitephotos/