Spring, and May in particular, is the month of hawthorn Crataegus.
In Ireland hawthorn trees are associated with faeries and superstition exists even to this day. It is considered bad luck to cut down or remove a hawthorn tree so they are often seen growing in the countryside in the middle of fields surrounded by green pasture.
Here in May and into June the tiny white blossom flowers of hawthorn brighten hedgerows throughout Ireland, covering rural laneways and fields with delicate petals.
Ireland's green landscapes are looking particularly vibrant at this time of year, we're into the spring month of May now and after the wettest April in Ireland for decades, since the 1940s I believe, we are finally getting some warmer temperatures and sunny days.
The weather - it's often said that if you don't like the weather in Ireland just wait five minutes.
It's not a widespread saying throughout Ireland, and I know of other cities and countries around the world of which this is said.
But at certain times of year we certainly do get the changeable weather that gives sunshine and showers in quick succession, often with a drop or rise in temperature.
This was true this week while out on tour in Dublin with Andrew from Chicago - we had rain then sun then rain then sun and more sun.
And today as I worked on images back at base we saw this weather, first sunshine as in the image above then cloud, hailstones and heavy rain as in the image below. There is less than 30 minutes between both images being taken, 23 minutes to be exact.
But don't let that put you off visiting Ireland or taking a photo tour with Panoramic Ireland, we see this weather often but it doesn't always last and we can adapt to conditions like these. The image as seen herewas also taken in April of these beautiful pink cherry blossoms.
Storm clouds on a spring day, after blue sky
Here of course is the logical extension of this stormy weather, the always beautiful rainbow as seen here rising off Dublin's River Liffey shooting skyward almost paralleling the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
Rainbow rising off Dublin's River Liffey
Join Panoramic Ireland to learn how to photograph in inclement conditions, making the most of what the elements throw at you - always remaining positive and ready to photograph no matter what the weather.
