Photography by John Ball - 1:00 pm 20 May 1998
(with Agfa ePhoto307 digital camera)

At this time of the year, the hedgerows, fields, and meadows in the fertile Upper Swansea Valley are ablaze with blossom.

Image 1:

This hawthorn bush displays a mass of white "May" blossom. Hawthorn is commonly called "May" because it flowers in the month of May. Old countryfolk used to say, "Cast not a clout till May is out", warning us not to discard winter clothing ("clout") until it's warm enough for the hawthorn to blossom.

Image 2:

Hawthorn is found in many of the hedges used to mark field boundaries in Wales.

Image 3:

May blossom frames the distant mountain, Mynydd Allt-y-grug.

A closer view of May blossom (Image 4), while a golden glow (Image 5) invites us to wander through the gate between these trees.

Image 6 and 7:

As we approach the gate, we can see the glow is caused by the sunshining on buttercups in a lush meadow.