Hawthorn blossom

White flowers are one of the hardest to photograph in the garden because the camera exposure meter is designed to measure an average mid tone and therefore under exposes the flower. A way round the problem is to take the exposure reading from the back of your hand and set the exposure on the camera to that reading.

Crown of Thorns

Hawthorn and Blackthorn are two of the spring's heralds, once they bloom you can be sure that 'primivera' has arrived.

This photograph is of a hawthorn which suffered badly in last years drought though now looks to be fully recovered.

Often used as a hedging plant it also makes an excellent tree, the pink form being particularly striking.